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Turkish football referee chief held over corruption allegations

Ferhat Gundogdu, head of Turkey's referee administration, has been detained pending trial along with six other officials. They face accusations of manipulating referee assignments and administration processes.

LSN Malaysia · 3 October 2026

Turkish football referee chief held over corruption allegations

Turkish authorities have remanded Ferhat Gundogdu, the chief of the country's football referee body, into custody as investigations proceed into alleged administrative corruption within the sport's governing structures.

Gundogdu and six accompanying referee officials appeared before a court following their detention. The group faces serious allegations centring on the suspected manipulation of referee selection and assignment procedures—a matter that strikes at the integrity of match administration in Turkish football.

The detention orders reflect judicial concerns over the gravity of the accusations. Authorities allege that the officials systematically exploited their positions within the referee administration apparatus, potentially compromising the fairness of competitions across Turkish football leagues.

The case underscores ongoing efforts by Turkish authorities to address corruption within sports institutions. The outcome of the trial could have significant implications for how referee systems are managed and overseen in the country's football establishment moving forward.