Shock in Turkish football: MHK President Ferhat Gündoğdu has been detained
Ferhat Gündoğdu, Chairman of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) Central Referee Board (MHK), has been detained along with six other people as part of an investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
A simultaneous operation was carried out in Istanbul, Ankara, Elazığ and Manisa as part of the investigation. Seven people, including MHK Chairman Ferhat Gündoğdu, were detained during the operation.
Investigation began in 2025
The investigation, reportedly launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office under the “Referees File”, began following a complainant’s statement given on September 15, 2025.
The case reportedly includes allegations concerning “torture” and “forgery of official documents.” The investigation has involved open-source research, examinations by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), HTS records, statements from complainants and witnesses, and expert assessments.
According to the prosecutor’s evaluation, Ferhat Gündoğdu, along with some MHK members, referees and observers, was considered potentially connected to the allegations. The operation was carried out to collect evidence as part of the investigation.
Seven people detained
The people detained in the operation are:
●Ferhat Gündoğdu, Chairman of the MHK
●Ferdi Karadoruk, President of the TFF Active Referees Association
●Ahmet Şahin, former Deputy Chairman of the TFF Central Referee Board
●Yunus Yıldırım, former member of the TFF Central Referee Board
●Sebahattin Şahin, MHK member and TFF Education and 4th Regional Coordinator
●Alican Sağlar, Organizational Officer of the Istanbul Branch of the TFF Referees and Observers Association
●Emre Kosif, Chairman of the Istanbul Provincial Referee Board of the TFF Referees and Observers Association
Message records included in the investigation
Message records belonging to some of the suspects have also reportedly been included in the investigation file.
According to reports, the messages examined by investigators include exchanges concerning the sharing of questions from a refereeing examination and statements regarding the appointment of certain referees.
The message records are being evaluated as part of the evidence in the investigation. The allegations are expected to become clearer as the judicial process progresses.
The legal proceedings related to the investigation are ongoing.
Source: NationalTurk
