By Murat Yıldız
Turkish refereeing came under direct judicial scrutiny early on September 29, when police detained seven suspects including Dr. Ferhat Gündoğdu, chairman of the Turkish Football Federation's Central Refereeing Board (MHK).
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said the investigation concerns allegations that referee classifications, assignments, scoring and appointment processes, as well as rules examinations, were subject to interference. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and Istanbul police carried out the operation after reviewing complainant and witness statements, expert reports, telecommunications records and Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) records, he said.
Searches were conducted at homes, workplaces and offices. Alongside Gündoğdu, the operation covered the MHK deputy chairman, an MHK member, a former member, the Istanbul branch head of Türkiye's active football referees and observers association, and two other suspects. Officials identified the other suspects by initials.
Detention and search orders are investigative measures and do not amount to a finding of guilt.
Gürlek said "no one's office, title or duty" could create privilege before the law and said authorities would continue what he called the fight for "clean football."
The detention immediately brought back remarks Ali Koç made on September 18, 2025. Then-Fenerbahçe president Koç, speaking after a 2-2 draw with Alanyaspor and a dispute over refereeing decisions and appointments, publicly targeted Gündoğdu.
"As long as my heart beats in this body, the whole country will see what Ferhat Gündoğdu is and what he represents," Koç said at the time. He also said he would continue pursuing the issue whether or not he remained Fenerbahçe president.
Koç's remarks were made in a separate refereeing dispute. They do not establish any connection to the allegations now under investigation.
Investigative journalist and sports commentator Lûbe Ayar told Bosphorus News simply: "The structure is unraveling." Ayar said she was referring to longstanding claims in Turkish football that an entrenched structure has exercised influence over refereeing and football governance. Those claims remain allegations.
Independent Türkçe sports writer Okan Can said pressure around the MHK had been building long before the operation.
"First of all, there has been enormous pressure in Turkish football," Can told Bosphorus News. "Club presidents and the football public have repeatedly raised questions about the Central Refereeing Board. It is too early to speak about the process, but one fact remains: Turkish football needs a broader clean-up."
Journalist Ahmet Ercanlar described the operation as "very important for cleaning up Turkish football." He alleged that referees had faced pressure, exam questions had been provided selectively and that a system existed capable of influencing championship outcomes.
Ercanlar also said former Fenerbahçe president Ali Koç continued pursuing the issue after leaving office and had shared information and documents with prosecutors. He argued that the investigation could extend to the leadership of the Turkish Football Federation because, in his view, federation officials had stood behind MHK decisions.
Ercanlar's claims have not been independently verified by Bosphorus News and are broader than the allegations publicly outlined by Gürlek.
TVNET and TRT Spor football commentator Erdal Hoş urged caution. "First of all, this is a judicial matter, so we should wait," Hoş told Bosphorus News. "Turkish football needs to resolve these off-field developments as soon as possible and focus on what happens on the pitch."
Hoş's emphasis on the pitch came less than a day after Türkiye's national team suffered a 4-1 home defeat to Italy in the UEFA Nations League. The defeat added a sporting dimension to a crisis already dominated by refereeing disputes, governance questions and judicial investigations.
Bosphorus News had already examined the gap between elite talent and the system around the national team in an earlier analysis of Türkiye's 2026 World Cup exit.
Sources: Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, Anadolu Agency, TRT Haber, Türkiye Football Federation, Ali Koç public remarks, Bosphorus News interviews and reporting.