5 arrest and termination cases, including MHC President Ferhat Gündoğdu, in the referees investigation

The investigation, known as the referees file, continues. In the investigation carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Illegal Betting and Sports Crimes Investigation Bureau, the Chairman of the Central Referee Board Ferhat Gündoğdu and four suspects were arrested.

Among those arrested are TFF Active Referees Association President Ferdi Karadoruk, TFF Referees and Observers Association Istanbul Provincial Referee Board President Emre Kosif, former TFF Central Referee Board Member Yunus Yıldırım and TFF Referees and Observers Association Istanbul Branch Organization Officer Alican Sağlar.

While the investigation was continuing, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office took a new step. A lawsuit was filed by the Illegal Betting and Sports Crimes Investigation Bureau, requesting the termination of the Istanbul Branch of the Turkish Active Football Referees and Observers Association.

CLAIM "REFEREES WERE DIVIDED INTO GROUPS"

In the petition, it was stated that the association's administrators classified the referees as "close, obedient, controllable and others", and that messages and documents were detected indicating that match and observer assignments were based on affiliation and loyalty instead of objective criteria.

In the petition, it was argued that the match and observer assignments were based on membership and loyalty rather than objective criteria.

Again, in the petition, it was claimed that the association's presidency was tried to be used as an element of power over the football and refereeing community. It was evaluated that the activities of the association went beyond the objectives specified in the charter and that the practices in question were continuing.

TERMINATION OF THE ASSOCIATION WAS REQUESTED

The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office requested on behalf of the public to decide on the termination of the Istanbul Branch of the Türkiye Active Football Referees and Observers Association within the scope of Article 89 of the Turkish Civil Code.