Referees file investigation: Yasin Kol's account movements and MASAK report details

The "Referees file" investigation continues by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Illegal Betting and Sports Crimes Bureau against some suspects regarding the crimes of "torture", "forgery of official documents", "abuse of trust" and "illegal seizure of personal data".

In the MASAK report mentioned in the expert report prepared on Suspicious Arm, it was stated that in 5 thousand 978 transactions between 2012 and 2026, 72.1 million lira went out of the accounts, 62.5 million lira entered the accounts and the total transaction volume was 135 million lira.

In the report, it was noted that Kol's transaction volume increased significantly after 2020, this accelerated in the 2024-2026 period, and there was an outflow of approximately 22.3 million lira in 2026 versus 40.8 million lira.

The report noted that there were 50 account records in 11 banks and 41 different IBAN numbers in the name of Suspect Kol, and that the professions in the account records were "athlete, security guard, officer, police/security guard, police/private security guard/police officer, police officer, student and other professions", and that, according to the Social Security Institution (SGK) record, he worked as a "security guard" at a university between March 2018 and August 2026.

In the report, it was stated that Kol received referee payment from the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), and that 6 million 883 thousand lira of the 25 million 57 thousand 733 lira foreign transfer inflow in the 2018-2026 period was from the federation.

The report stated that 2.5 million liras of this money came from the university where he worked, and that the share of the two institutions was approximately 37.45 percent, and 15 million 674 thousand liras of the remaining amount came from real persons and other institutions.

In the report, it was pointed out that the statement of 4 million 985 thousand lira among these transactions included the phrase "debt or debt refund", and it was stated that more than 1/3 of the money entering the suspect Kol's accounts came from payments of institutions related to his professional and referee activities, and more than half came from real persons.

Money transfer with other referees

The suspect's match schedule and transfers with referees were also reported in the report, which stated that Suspect Kol had money inflow and outflow records with people with criminal records such as "fraud", "theft through informatics", "abuse of bank or credit cards".

The report continued as follows:

"Transfers from real persons are seen around 2 points more frequently on the match day and the previous 3 days compared to the shifted calendars, there is no difference in the amount. The share of the exit amount for these days is below the average of the shifted calendars. Of the 64 counterparties with the same name as the referees who took part in the same match with Yasin Kol, 50 of the banking transfers were between 3 days before and 2 days after a match in which they took part together, 47 of which were made from Yasin Kol to the assistant and fourth referees in the team. Payments between 100 lira and 5 thousand lira. In 44 of these payments, Yasin Kol was the referee of the relevant match and 40 of them were made after the start of the match. This concentration is not seen in any of the shifted calendars. The reason for the payments cannot be determined from the records. 1 million 880 thousand lira came to O.T in 12 transactions, and 100 thousand lira came from the tax identification number of the same name in 1 transaction. "358 thousand 900 liras were sent to K.S."

investigation

Within the scope of the "Referees file" investigation carried out by Istanbul Police Department Financial Crimes Branch teams under the coordination of Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Illegal Betting and Sports Crimes Bureau, it was determined that there were allegations of "torture" and "forgery of official documents" against some suspects.

As a result of open source research, MASAK and HTS studies, complainant and witness statements and expert findings within the scope of the file, it was evaluated that the President of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) Central Referee Board (MHK) Ferhat Gündoğdu and some referees and observers who are members of the MHK may be linked to the crime.

Thereupon, MHK President Gündoğdu, Turkish Active Football Referees and Observers Association (TFFHGD) Istanbul Branch President Ferdi Karadoruk, former MHK Deputy President Ahmet Şahin, former MHK member Yunus Yıldırım, MHK Education and 4th Regional Officer Sebahattin Şahin, TFFHGD Istanbul Branch Organization Officer, were carried out in the operation at the addresses determined in Istanbul, Ankara, Elazığ and Manisa. Alican Sağlar and TFFHGD Istanbul Provincial Referee Board President Emre Kosif were taken into custody.

The court decided to arrest Gündoğdu, Kosif, Karadoruk, Yıldırım and Sağlar.

Judicial control measures in the form of "ban on going abroad" and "signature" were applied to the suspects Sebahattin Şahin and Ahmet Şahin.

Within the scope of the investigation, Super League referee Yasin Kol and Super League assistant referee Göktuğ Hazar Erel were detained by the Istanbul Police Department Financial Crimes Department teams and sent to the courthouse after their procedures.

Among the suspects whose statements were completed at the prosecutor's office, Kol was referred to the criminal judgeship of peace on duty with a request for arrest for "match-fixing and incentive bonus" and Erel for "forgery of official documents".