MHK President Ferhat Gündoğdu and 6 Other Suspects Detained

A simultaneous operation was organized in 4 provinces within the scope of the "Referees File", which included allegations of document forgery and mobbing. 7 suspects, including MHK President Ferhat Gündoğdu, were detained. So, who is Ferhat Gündoğdu? Why was MHK President Ferhat Gündoğdu detained?

WHO IS FERHAT GÜNDOĞDU?

Ferhat Gündoğdu, born in 1969, started his military career after his education. Gündoğdu, who received undergraduate education in business administration and management at the Military Academy between 1987 and 1991, continued his academic studies in the fields of sports management and business administration in the following years. He received postgraduate education in sports management at Ankara University between 2002-2004, and in business and management at Atatürk University between 2005-2007. Gündoğdu completed his doctorate in sports management at Ankara University in 2014.

WHAT DUTIES DID FERHAT GÜNDOĞDU HAVE?

Ferhat Gündoğdu, who has a military background, served as a branch manager within the General Staff during his service. Later, he served as Assignment Branch Manager of the Land Forces EDOK Combat Service Support Training Command. Gündoğdu, who was also the Commander of Ankara Sports School and Training Center, also served as a referee in addition to his military career. After the law was passed, he quit refereeing and continued his military service.

Gündoğdu, who started to work within the Turkish Football Federation after his retirement, also served in the Central Referee Board. On February 13, 2019, he became a member of the Central Referee Board chaired by Sabri Çelik.

After Serdar Tatlı resigned from his position as the President of the Central Referee Board on October 21, 2021, Ferhat Gündoğdu was appointed as the President of the MHK by the Turkish Football Federation Board of Directors. Gündoğdu resigned from his position on April 17, 2022 and was replaced by Sabri Çelik.

Ferhat Gündoğdu was reappointed as the President of the Central Referee Board by the Turkish Football Federation on July 23, 2024.

WHY WAS MHK PRESIDENT FERHAT GÜNDOĞDU TAKEN INTO CUSTODY?

Within the scope of the 'Forgery of Official Documents' investigation carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, upon the statement of a victim, an investigation was launched against the suspects for the crimes of 'mobbing' and 'forgery of official documents'.

Based on the open source studies carried out within the scope of the investigation, MASAK and HTS examinations, complainant-witness statements and expert findings, it was evaluated that MHK President Ferhat Gündoğdu and some MHK members, referees and observers, may be connected to the crime. A simultaneous operation was carried out in 4 provinces centered in Istanbul against 7 suspects. 7 suspects were detained during the operation.