ANKARA — The president of Turkey's refereeing body, Ferhat Gundogdu, has been arrested as part of a police investigation into corruption in Turkish football, with six other people also detained.
Justice minister Akin Gurlek said the investigation focused on "claims regarding interference in the formation of referee classifications, assignments, scoring and appointment processes, as well as rule examinations." Gundogdu, his vice-president and five other individuals are those arrested, according to Gurlek.
Gurlek said police also searched homes, workplaces and offices as part of the operation. "We will resolutely continue our fight for clean football so that allegations damaging trust in Turkish football are brought to light, those responsible are held accountable before the law, and football is associated with the effort, competition and sportsmanship on the pitch," Gurlek said.
The arrests follow a separate sprawling scandal in November 2025, when the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended 149 referees and assistant referees after an investigation found hundreds of professional match officials in the country had betting accounts. Some 29 people were arrested in that case, including 14 footballers. Gurlek did not make any link between last year's betting scandal and the current investigation.