In the “Forgery of Official Documents” investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 7 people, including MHK President Ferhat Gündoğdu, were detained as part of allegations involving mobbing and forgery of official documents.
Within the scope of the investigation, it was assessed that the suspects might be linked to the crimes in line with MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board) and HTS (Historical Traffic Search) analyses, as well as complainant and witness testimonies. In the operation carried out in 4 provinces centered in Istanbul, 6 other people from the TFF (Turkish Football Federation) and MHK were detained in addition to Gündoğdu.
Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek stated in his explanation regarding the investigation that allegations concerning interference in the creation of referee classifications, assignment, scoring, and appointment processes, as well as rule examinations, are being investigated.
Gürlek reported that the operation was carried out in line with complainant and witness statements, expert reports, and HTS and MASAK records within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the Istanbul Police Department. He announced that in addition to MHK President Ferhat Gündoğdu, 6 suspects from the TFF and MHK were detained and searches were conducted at their addresses.
Gürlek's statement is as follows:
"Football is a common passion of our citizens and an important value of ours. Fair competition on the field and the impartial and transparent execution of refereeing processes are the foundation of trust in football. Our state is determinedly pursuing every allegation of irregularity that undermines this trust within the framework of the law.
In this context; allegations regarding interference in the creation of referee classifications, assignment, scoring, and appointment processes, as well as rule examinations, have been investigated. An operation was carried out this morning in line with complainant and witness statements, expert reports, and HTS and MASAK records in the investigation conducted by our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office with our Istanbul Provincial Police Department.
Within the scope of the operation; detention procedures were applied to suspects including Turkish Football Federation Central Referee Committee President F.G., TFF MHK Deputy President A.Ş., MHK Member S.Ş., former MHK Member Y.Y., Turkish Active Football Referees and Observers Association Istanbul Branch President F.K., as well as A.S. and E.K.; and judicial searches were carried out at residences, workplaces, and offices.
We are well aware of the sensitivities and expectations of justice our sports fans have regarding refereeing processes. No one's position, title, or duty is a reason for privilege before the law. I would like to thank our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, which is conducting this important investigation with great diligence, and our Istanbul Provincial Police Department, which took part in the operation, for their devoted work.
We will continue our fight for clean football with determination to clarify the allegations that undermine trust in Turkish football, to ensure those responsible are held accountable before the law, and to ensure football is associated with effort, struggle, and sportsmanship on the field."
News Source: 12punto
