TFF revokes licenses of former referee and observer over sexual content footage

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) Arbitration Board has unanimously upheld the decision to revoke the licenses of a male observer and a female referee following the emergence of footage depicting sexual activity, which surfaced last year and caused a major stir in the football community. According to the decision, the lifetime bans from football-related activities for observer O.E. and referee E.K. have been finalized. Following the incident, the Arbitration Board thoroughly reviewed the written defenses of both O.E. and E.K. Furthermore, board members who viewed the relevant sexually explicit video stated that they identified critical details in the footage. The admissions contained in observer O.E.'s defense were also a significant factor in the decision.

FORMER SÜPER LİG REFEREE WITH FIFA BADGE

According to the report by Atilla Türker from Ajansspor; O.E., a former referee and observer who once officiated derby matches in the Süper Lig and held a FIFA badge for many years, clearly expressed his feelings and thoughts in the defense he submitted to the Football Federation Arbitration Board.

Having served in important matches both in Turkey and on the international stage as a FIFA-badged referee, O.E. had also been serving in critical roles in the international arena as an observer until recently, following his refereeing career.

A DEFENSE AKIN TO A CONFESSION

Submitting a written defense to the Arbitration Board following the lifetime ban imposed on him by the Professional Football Disciplinary Board, O.E. stated, "There is no provision in the Central Referee Board (MHK) instructions that prevents referees from having romantic relationships with each other. When such a situation is encountered, no punitive sanction is applied according to the instructions. Indeed, it is a known fact that there are many cases in the football referee community where such relationships have resulted in marriage. I do not find it correct that my having a romantic relationship with a referee is perceived as behavior that demeans the football community, and I do not want to believe this situation."

"MY REPUTATION HAS BEEN DESTROYED"

61-year-old O.E., who once served as the President of the Istanbul Provincial Referee Board and has a career in refereeing and observing spanning over 30 years, stated that the footage concerning him was shared without his consent.

O.E. said, "My refereeing and observing life, which I have carried out with great honor and dignity for over 30 years and which has not a single black mark, has been turned upside down because of this sharing done without my permission. My reputation in the eyes of my family, social circle, and the referee community has been completely destroyed. Beyond my financial losses, the moral damage I have suffered is indescribable. I am going through an extremely difficult psychological process, and I would like to state once again to the Federation that I have resorted to legal means due to all these damages."

"FOOTAGE THAT DOES NOT CONCERN ME"

Providing a defense regarding the incident, 24-year-old female referee E.K. argued that the footage associated with her was completely baseless.

In the statement she submitted to the Arbitration Board, E.K. included the following: "A video is being mentioned that is being attempted to be associated with me, but which has nothing to do with me and has extremely poor image quality. I am not the person in the footage, and facing such a heavy accusation is an attack on a woman's honor. The video in question, which is alleged to have been shared on a social media account named 'E.............' on 23.02.2024, has nothing to do with me, and this video has not been shared on any social media platform belonging to me."

FLOOD OF COMPLAINTS TO THE TFF

Allegations that observer O.E., who also served as the President of the Istanbul Provincial Referee Board, provided great support for referee E.K. to advance in her career and frequently officiate matches, caused a wide stir in the football community. It has emerged that many complaints were submitted to the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) in the community where this situation caused discomfort.

It was learned that O.E., who served as an observer in the Galatasaray-Trabzonspor match played last season, had E.K., who had no official duty in that match, sit in the protocol tribune, and this situation was reported by the match representative İlker Emir. Furthermore, it was noted that with the emergence of some photographs, O.E. was also complained about to the federation management. Following the developments, O.E. resigned from his position as President of the Istanbul Provincial Referee Board on August 23, 2023.

DISCIPLINARY PROCESS AND BAN FROM FOOTBALL

Following the events, O.E. was given a warning penalty by the Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK) on September 27, 2023. Yesterday, the Arbitration Board unanimously upheld the 45-day ban from football-related activities imposed on O.E. by the PFDK.

Similarly, the 90-day ban from football-related activities imposed on Istanbul Provincial Referee E.K. by the Amateur Football Disciplinary Board was also upheld by the Arbitration Board.

According to Article 40 of the Central Referee Board instructions, the licenses of referees, observers, mentors, and educators who receive a penalty of more than 45 days at one time or more than 90 days in total from disciplinary boards are revoked without the need for a separate decision. In this context, O.E.'s career as an observer and E.K.'s career as a referee have come to an end.

News Source: 12punto