Five suspects faced pretrial detention in Istanbul on Tuesday, including the head of the Turkish Football Federation’s central referee committee, Ferhat Gündoğdu, following an anti-corruption sweep across four cities.
Raids Target Referee Committee Leadership and Match Officials
State news agency Anadolu reported that Gündoğdu and six other individuals appeared before a judge on suspicion of manipulation, leading to five detention orders and two conditional releases. The raids targeted officials in connection with the Istanbul chief public prosecutor’s illegal betting and sports crimes bureau, spanning Istanbul, Ankara, and two other cities.
State Scrutiny Focuses on Match Assignments and Rankings
Justice Minister Akin Gürlek detailed the scope of the investigation on social media, pointing to allegations of interference in referee ranking lists, match assignments, evaluation and appointment processes, and rule examinations. Authorities executed judicial searches at the residences, workplaces, and offices of the suspects as part of an effort to restore public confidence in Turkish football.
Judicial Inquiry Secures Pretrial Orders
Investigators took seven suspects into custody on Tuesday, ultimately securing pretrial detention for five defendants, including the central referee committee chairman. Alongside the leadership figures, two top-tier referees also feature among the suspects in the ongoing judicial inquiry. The state prosecutor’s office focuses specifically on how match officials are selected, graded, and promoted through the system.
MHK Administrative Procedures Under Criminal Investigation
The central committee, known locally as the MHK, functions as the primary governing body responsible for grading referees, assigning them to league fixtures, and assessing their performances. These administrative procedures now form the core of the criminal investigation led by specialized prosecutors in Istanbul.
Previous Suspensions and Süper Lig Disciplinary Referrals
The current legal action follows a previous administrative purge within Turkish football. Last year, disciplinary authorities suspended 149 referees following an internal inquiry into officiating integrity.
On Thursday, the national football federation escalated disciplinary procedures by referring 448 club officials to the disciplinary committee amid an investigation into betting fraud. That referral list includes prominent executives from major clubs, featuring the president of Trabzonspor and the vice-president of Beşiktaş.
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