Referees’ chief for major European football nation arrested in corruption investigation

Five others have also been arrested.

Ferhat Gundogdu, the head of the Central Referees Committee of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), has taken into custody as confirmed by Turkish justice minister Akin Gurlek.

Alongside Gundogdu, the vice president for the body was also detained by police, as well as five other people.

In a statement, Gurlek revealed the reasoning behind the arrests related to: "Claims regarding interference in the formation of referee classifications, assignments, scoring and appointment processes, as well as rule examinations."

"We will resolutely continue our fight for clean football so that allegations damaging trust in Turkish football are brought to light, those responsible are held accountable before the law, and football is associated with the effort, competition and sportsmanship on the pitch," he added.