Head of Turkish Arbitration Body Detained on Remand

Istanbul – AFP – The head of Turkey’s Football Arbitration Board and four other individuals were remanded in custody by a court as part of a complex corruption case shaking the entire Turkish Football Federation, the Anadolu Agency reported on Saturday.

In response to the case, the Turkish Football Federation issued its first statement yesterday, announcing that it would “in light of these developments” reorganize its central referees board.

The head of the federation’s central referees board, Ferhat Gundogdu, along with six others, appeared before a judge on Friday amid allegations of tampering with the arbitration management system.

The detainees face several charges, including “forging official documents,” “breach of trust,” and “unlawful acquisition of personal data.”

The arrests come a year after the Turkish Football Federation suspended 149 referees in an illegal betting scandal.

Specialized police units combating illegal betting and sports-related crimes also arrested Yasin Kol, a referee in the Turkish Super Lig, as well as an assistant referee, according to media reports.