Seven former referees file criminal complaint against TFF President Hacıosmanoğlu and Gündoğdu

Seven former referees—Süleyman Abay, Cevdet Kömürcüoğlu, Kutluhan Bilgiç, Bahattin Şimşek, Emre Altun, Mustafa Sönmez, and Taner Gizlenci—have applied to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to file a criminal complaint against TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu and former MHK President Ferhat Gündoğdu. In the application made on October 8 through lawyer Halil İbrahim Atabay, the suspects were accused of slander and misconduct in office.

The basis of the criminal complaint lies in digital materials and WhatsApp correspondence obtained within the scope of an illegal betting investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The petition alleges that in correspondence dated July 26, 2024, Hacıosmanoğlu sent a list of former referees to Gündoğdu, associating them with a terrorist organization and requesting their removal from duty. The former referees argue that this correspondence is directly linked to their dismissal.

Former referee Cevdet Kömürcüoğlu recalled that they had faced similar accusations in the past and were acquitted in a 2016 case, demanding that Hacıosmanoğlu provide evidence for his claims. Kömürcüoğlu stated that they were dismissed without a disciplinary investigation or the opportunity to provide a defense, and called on Hacıosmanoğlu to resign. Assessment: The referees' claims focus on the reopening of a matter that had previously resulted in a decision of non-prosecution and the failure to follow legal procedures.