Criminal complaint against Hacıosmanoğlu and Gündoğdu!

Seven referees and observers filed a criminal complaint against Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu and former Central Referee Board (MHK) President Ferhat Gündoğdu to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on charges of "slander" and "abuse of office".

In the petition submitted by Lawyer Halil İbrahim Atabay, the representative of the complainants Bahattin Şimşek, Kutluhan Bilgiç, Mustafa Sönmez, Emre Altun, Taner Gizlenci, Süleyman Abay and Cevdet Kömürcüoğlu, it was claimed that the suspects used their public authority to suspend the referees and observers from duty with unfounded allegations and damaged their professional reputation.

WHATSAPP CORRESPONDENCES IN THE INVESTIGATION FILE ARE IN THE PETITION

In the criminal complaint petition, WhatsApp correspondences detected in the digital materials of Ferhat Gündoğdu, who was arrested within the scope of the "Referees File" numbered 2025/83127 carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Illegal Betting and Sports Crimes Investigation Bureau, were included.

According to the allegations in the petition; It was reported that TFF President İbrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu sent the competition lists for 2015 to former MHK President Ferhat Gündoğdu on July 26, 2024, associating the names in question with the terrorist organization and giving instructions for their dismissal, and Ferhat Gündoğdu accepted this instruction and ensured that the complainants were dismissed from the referee and observation staff.

A DECISION OF NON-PROCEEDING WAS MADE PREVIOUSLY

In the petition, it was reminded that İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu had previously filed a criminal complaint against the same names due to his personal hostility from his past term as club president. It was stated that as a result of detailed examinations of the police units, MASAK and digital data, a "Non-Prosecution Decision" (non-prosecution) was previously given against the complainants and the file was closed. Although the suspect was aware of this decision not to prosecute, he triggered the administrative sanction process with the same allegations. It was emphasized that it constituted the crime of 'Slander' in accordance with Article 267.

"ORDERS WHICH CONSTITUTE A CRIME CANNOT BE FULFILLED"

It was argued that former MHK President Ferhat Gündoğdu used his public powers contrary to the law, merit and impartiality principles. Article 137 of the Constitution and Article 24/3 of the Turkish Penal Code. Referring to the articles, it is stated that illegal orders, which constitute a crime, cannot be carried out, and Gündoğdu, who implemented this order, is in violation of TCK Art. It was stated that he was responsible for the crime of "Abuse of Office" within the scope of Article 257.

A PUBLIC CASE WAS REQUESTED

In the petition; It was requested to include forensic computer investigation reports and WhatsApp transcripts in the file, to retrieve the previous non-prosecution file from the archive and to prepare an indictment for the purpose of filing a public lawsuit against the suspects İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu and Ferhat Gündoğdu.