Audio of refereeing chief Ferhat Gundogdu threatening referee emerges

An audio recording emerged in which Central Refereeing Committee (MHK) chairman Ferhat Gündoğdu, detained in the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's illegal betting investigation, threatened FIFA assistant referee Kerem Ersoy with the words, "You will lose your refereeing."

In the recording, Gündoğdu tells Ersoy, "I am giving you one last chance" and "Either submit your resignation and quit refereeing, or behave." Gündoğdu is also heard claiming that some referees and association circles were under surveillance, saying, "The state is monitoring."

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1 Oct 2026 22:26 Audio of refereeing chief Ferhat Gundogdu threatening referee emerges An audio recording emerged in which Central Refereeing Committee (MHK) chairman Ferhat Gündoğdu, detained in the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's illegal betting investigation, threatened FIFA assistant referee Kerem Ersoy with the words, "You will lose your refereeing."

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