Seven Turkish soccer officials detained over alleged refereeing irregularities

Seven high-ranking soccer officials have been detained in Türkiye as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities in the country’s refereeing systemş

Those detained include Ferhat Gündoğdu, chairman of the Central Referees Committee (MHK) of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

The investigation is being conducted by the Financial Crimes Unit of the Istanbul Security Directorate under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office. The suspects are accused of systematic pressure and forgery of official documents.

Investigators allege that there was illegal interference in the assignment of referee categories, match appointments, the issuance of referee evaluations and the results of examinations on the rules of soccer.

The detentions were carried out in Istanbul, Ankara, Elazığ and Manisa.

The other detainees are Ferdi Karadoruk, chairman of the TFF Association of Active Referees and Inspectors; Ahmet Şahin, former deputy chairman of the MHK; Yunus Yıldırım, a former MHK member and referee; MHK member Sebahattin Şahin; Alijan Saglar, responsible for organisational affairs at the Istanbul branch of the TFFHGD; and Emre Kosif, chairman of the Istanbul Provincial Referees Committee.

By Sabina Mammadli