Turkish Court has ordered the pre-trial detention of Turkey’s football refereeing chief and four other people.
The decision is part of an investigation into alleged irregularities within the country’s referee administration system.
Ferhat Gundogdu heads Turkey’s Central Referees Committee, known as the MHK.
He and six other suspects appeared before a judge on Friday, according to state news agency Anadolu.
The hearing took place at Istanbul’s Caglayan courthouse.
Five suspects were remanded in custody. The remaining two were granted conditional release.
Turkish Court Examines Referee Administration Claims
The investigation focuses on allegations involving the management of football referees in Turkey.
Authorities are examining claims of manipulation within the referee administration process.
The suspects face several allegations, including official document forgery and breach of trust.
They are also accused of illegally obtaining personal data.
The Turkish Court ordered five suspects to remain in custody while the investigation continues.
The case represents another major controversy involving Turkish football and its refereeing system.
Police Search VAR Room at TFF Headquarters
Police conducted raids earlier in the week as part of the investigation.
Officers searched the VAR room at the Turkish Football Federation headquarters in Istanbul on Tuesday.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said prosecutors were examining several alleged forms of interference.
These include referee classification, assignments, scoring and appointments.
Authorities are also investigating claims involving examinations on football rules.
The allegations have raised fresh questions about referee management within Turkish football.
Super Lig Referee Also Detained
The investigation expanded further on Thursday night.
Police from the illegal betting and sports crime unit detained Super Lig referee Yasin Kol, according to media reports.
An assistant referee was also reportedly detained.
The latest developments come one year after another major refereeing controversy.
In 2025, the Turkish Football Federation suspended 149 referees over allegations involving illegal betting.
Sports journalist Ayhan Sensoy told AFP that the current investigation appeared connected to developments from 2025.
However, authorities have not publicly established all links between the two cases.
Investigation Could Have Wider Impact on Turkish Football
The Turkish Court proceedings come as investigators continue examining how referees were classified and appointed.
The Turkish Football Federation had not directly addressed the latest arrests in the provided information.
Its senior officials were expected to return on Saturday after attending Turkey’s UEFA Nations League match against Belgium.
Turkey lost the match 3-0 in Liege on Friday night.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations against those detained have not been proven in court.
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Further developments could provide more information about the scope of the investigation and its impact on Turkish football.
