OMM Redaksiyası
Two more referees have been detained as part of an investigation in Türkiye known as the “Referees file.”
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Super League referee Yasin Kol and Super League assistant referee Göktuğ Hazar Erel were detained as part of an investigation led by the Illegal Betting and Sports Crimes Bureau of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
What are the referees accused of?
According to the report, Kol and Erel were identified and detained after authorities examined digital devices seized from people detained earlier in the investigation and analyzed information provided by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK).
The referees are reportedly detained on suspicion of violating Law No. 7258, involvement in document forgery and abuse of office.
The suspects were taken to a police station as the investigation continues.
How did the investigation begin?
The investigation, conducted by the Istanbul Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit under the coordination of the Illegal Betting and Sports Crimes Bureau of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, covers several alleged offenses.
Based on open-source research, MASAK and HTS data, statements from victims and witnesses, and expert opinions, investigators assessed that Central Referee Committee (MHK) Chairman Ferhat Gündoğdu and some referees and observers may have been connected to the acts under investigation.
Authorities subsequently carried out operations at identified addresses in Istanbul, Ankara, Elazığ and Manisa.
During that operation, authorities detained MHK Chairman Ferhat Gündoğdu, Chairman of the Turkish Football Federation Active Referees Association Ferdi Karadoruk, former MHK deputy chairman Ahmet Şahin, former MHK member Yunus Yıldırım, TFF Education and Fourth Region official Sebahattin Şahin, organizational official at the Istanbul branch of the TFF Referees and Observers Association Alican Sağlar, and chairman of the Istanbul Provincial Referee Committee of the TFF Referees and Observers Association Emre Kosif.
The investigation is ongoing.
