The top of the Turkish referees’ physique has been arrested as a part of a police investigation into corruption.
Turkish justice minister Akin Gurlek mentioned the investigation targeted on “claims concerning interference within the formation of referee classifications, assignments, scoring and appointment processes, in addition to rule examinations”.
Ferhat Gundogdu, the president of the refereeing physique, his vice-president and one other 5 individuals are these arrested.
Gurlek mentioned police additionally searched properties, workplaces and workplaces.
“We’ll resolutely proceed our struggle for clear soccer in order that allegations damaging belief in Turkish soccer are dropped at mild, these accountable are held accountable earlier than the regulation, and soccer is related to the hassle, competitors and sportsmanship on the pitch,” Gurlek mentioned.
The Turkish Soccer Federation (TFF) mentioned police inspected the VAR room at its headquarters in Istanbul on Tuesday.
The federation denied studies that digital materials had been deleted earlier than the inspection and subsequently recovered by police.
It mentioned it was cooperating with investigators and would file felony complaints over false studies and social media posts.
In November 2025 the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended 149 referees and assistant referees after an investigation discovered a whole lot {of professional} match officers within the nation had betting accounts.
Some 29 individuals had been arrested within the sprawling scandal, together with 14 footballers.
Nonetheless, Gurlek didn’t make any hyperlink between final yr’s betting scandal and the present investigation.
