A major investigation into Türkiye’s football refereeing system has led to the detention of seven people, including Central Referees Committee (MHK) President Ferhat Gündoğdu, over allegations involving workplace bullying and official document forgery.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched the "Referees File” investigation after receiving a complainant’s statement on Sept. 15, 2025. Investigators said they examined open-source material, Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) findings, historical telephone records, witness and complainant statements, and expert reports before determining that Gündoğdu and others could be linked to the alleged offenses.
Police carried out simultaneous operations Tuesday in Istanbul, Ankara, Elazığ and Manisa. Seven suspects were detained, including Gündoğdu, who oversees refereeing through the MHK, a body operating under the Turkish Football Federation (TFF).
Those detained are Gündoğdu; Ferdi Karadoruk, president of the TFF Active Referees Association; Sebahattin Şahin, an MHK member and TFF education and fourth-region official; Emre Kosif, president of the TFF Referees and Observers Association's Istanbul Provincial Referee Board; Alican Sağlar, organizational official of the association's Istanbul branch; former MHK vice president Ahmet Şahin; and former MHK member Yunus Yıldırım.
Center of investigation
Investigators have examined message records that allegedly shed light on how referee examinations and appointments were handled.
According to records cited in the investigation, referee G.H.E. contacted Karadoruk on May 15, 2025, asking about questions for a refereeing examination. Karadoruk allegedly replied that he had requested them from Emre Kosif and would ask again.
Four days later, G.H.E. reportedly reminded Karadoruk about the questions. Karadoruk allegedly responded that he was asking Kosif for them for a third time and would return to the matter after a May 19 program.
The file also contains an alleged message from Karadoruk concerning Istanbul provincial referee board member Mehmet Çaylak. In the message, Karadoruk allegedly discussed withholding observer assignments from Çaylak and using pressure in an effort to make him resign.
The messages form part of the evidence being examined by prosecutors and do not, by themselves, establish that the alleged offenses occurred.
Alleged manipulation
The investigation extends beyond individual messages, with prosecutors examining alleged irregularities involving referee appointments, classifications, scoring and evaluation procedures.
Investigators are also examining claims of interference in refereeing examinations, including allegations that questions and grading were manipulated during a 2025 examination in Riva and that some results were subsequently changed.
WhatsApp conversations allegedly found on a phone belonging to Karadoruk have also been examined. The phone was reportedly seized and analyzed in connection with a separate obscenity investigation, with some messages allegedly concerning the selection of referee lists.
The investigation has also raised allegations involving the unlawful acquisition of personal data, breach of trust and other offenses against some of the suspects. The specific allegations vary by individual and remain subject to the ongoing investigation.
Searches across four provinces
The Istanbul Financial Crimes Branch conducted the operation under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's Illegal Betting and Sports Crimes Bureau.
Authorities said evidence gathered through financial investigations, telephone records, witness testimony, open-source research and expert analysis pointed to possible links between Gündoğdu, MHK members, referees and observers.
Searches were carried out at addresses connected to the suspects, with authorities seeking digital material, appointment records and documents potentially relevant to the investigation.
The suspects were taken for mandatory medical examinations before being transferred to police facilities for questioning.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek confirmed the operation and said the investigation had uncovered findings concerning alleged interference in referee classifications, appointments, scoring and examination procedures.