While 5 suspects who were detained in the operation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against the referees on September 29 were arrested and 2 suspects were released under judicial control, the Turkish Football Federation broke its 4-day silence yesterday.
In addition to the President of the Central Referee Board Ferhat Gündoğdu, former MHK member Yunus Yıldırım, TFFHGD Istanbul Branch President Ferdi Karadoruk, TFFHGD Istanbul Organization Officer Alican Sağlar and TFFHGD Istanbul Provincial Referee Board President Emre Kosif were arrested yesterday. Former MHK Deputy Chairman Ahmet Şahin and TFF Education and 4th Region Manager Sebahattin Şahin were released under judicial control and an international travel ban.
Şahin was released, he resigned in the evening
The TFF management, which was the target of criticism due to its silence and lack of any explanation after what happened, announced on its official website on the 4th day after the arrest of the MHK President, "As part of the public and ongoing judicial process, the information that MHK President Ferhat Gündoğdu was arrested and MHK 4th Regional Officer Mr. Sebahattin Şahin was released on the condition of judicial control and a ban on going abroad. In line with these developments, new "Work on the establishment of MHK continues," he announced. In the evening, Sebahattin Şahin announced that he resigned from MHK.
The new MHK will be determined soon
In its statement, TFF also stated that until MHK's appointment process is completed, the referee appointments for the Ziraat Türkiye Cup competitions to be played on 6, 7 and 8 October; It will be held by the Deputy Chairman of the Central Referee Board, Mr. Hikmet Öksüzoğlu, and the members of the Central Referee Board, Mr. Ali Zağlı, Mr. Kamil Abitoğlu, Mr. İbrahim Çınar and Mr. Ziya Çetin. "The necessary information regarding the appointment of the new Central Referee Board President and members will be shared with the public in the coming days."
WHO WAS ARRESTED AND WHY?
· MHK President Ferhat Gündoğdu: “Recording Personal Data Contrary to the Law.
· Former MHK executive Yunus Yıldırım: “Recording Personal Data Contrary to the Law.
·TFFHGD Istanbul Organization Officer Alican Sağlar: “Recording Personal Data Contrary to the Law.
· TFFHGD Istanbul Provincial Arbitration Board President Emre Kosif: “Recording Personal Data Contrary to the Law.
· TFFHGD Istanbul Branch President Ferdi Karadoruk: “Abuse of Trust Due to Service”, “Importing, reproducing, selling, transporting and exporting obscene publications involving children into the country.
QUESTIONS AWAITING ANSWERS
1-) WHO WILL ASSIGN THE REFEREE IN THE SUPER LEAGUE?
Turkish Football Federation created a temporary MHK following the arrest of the President of the Central Referee Board, Ferhat Gündoğdu. This team will determine the names who will blow the whistle in the Ziraat Turkish Cup matches to be played on 6-7-8 October. However, who will make the appointments in the Super League, which will start with the Galatasaray-Kasımpaşa match on October 9?
2-) WHO WILL BE THE NEW PRESIDENT OF MHK AFTER GUNDOĞDU?
MHK members Hikmet Öksüzoğlu, Ali Zağlı, Kamil Abitoğlu, İbrahim Çınar and Ziya Çetin will determine the referees who will work in the cup during the week. However, there is still uncertainty about who will be the new president of the Central Arbitration Board. While it was claimed that Bünyamin Gezer rejected the offer made to him, Prof. Dr. Recep Sürhat Müniroğlu stands out as the strongest candidate. Although it is claimed that MHK Elite Referee Director Anthony Taylor is stuck with the requirement of serving for 1 year at MHK, the British referee is also shown as a suitable name for the transition period.
3-) WILL THE LEAGUES CONTINUE?
While TFF announced the names of the referees for the matches to be played during the week in the Turkish Cup yesterday, the lack of information about the status of the Super League and the leagues increased the question marks in the minds. Clubs expect that whether there will be a postponement or continuation, it will be determined as soon as possible and the uncertainty will be eliminated. If there is a postponement, what schedule will the matches be played on? Will it be played during the week as in previous years or will it be moved to the end of the season?
4-) DOES TFF MAKE ELECTION DECISIONS?
Turkish Football Federation President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, whose abusive correspondence with Ferhat Gündoğdu was revealed and who sent a message to the MHK President as a referee he did not want for a club president's matches, has not yet made a statement about what happened. TFF is expected to hold an evaluation meeting in Riva on Tuesday after the national match against Italy. While TFF manager Ural Aküzüm, substitute members Adem Doğrul, Kazım Şengöçgel and Seymen Gençtürk resigned, allegations that 6 more names are ready to resign if Hacıosmanoğlu does not make an election decision are frequently brought to the agenda.
WHICH REFEREE MADE WHAT STATEMENT?
TUGAY KAAN NUMANOĞLU (COMPLIANT): "I was among the 31 names whose refereeing was terminated on March 8, 2022. At that time, the Arbitration Board canceled the decision. In the first 4 weeks of 2024-25, I was given the duty of VAR referee in only 2 matches. I called MHK deputy chairman Ahmet Şahin to ask why no other duty was given. However, he did not answer. When Şahin returned 1 hour later, he said, 'Your key. He said, 'It's not for me, go to another door' and hung up the phone. My arbitration was terminated before the 5th week. I am a separate plaintiff and complainant against MHK President Ferhat Gündoğdu and Deputy Chairman Ahmet Şahin, who gave me false reasons and caused my social life to be terminated after the decision, and other individuals who were later determined to have acted together with these people.
