The arrests have caused a stir in the referees' committee in Turkey.

The head of the Turkish Football Referee Committee and six others have been arrested on charges of match-fixing, Justice Minister Akin Gorlik announced on Tuesday, pledging to combat corruption in football.

According to Anadolu Agency, Farhat Gundogdu, the head of the Turkish Football Federation's Central Referee Committee, along with his deputy and five other suspects, were apprehended during raids across four provinces in the country.

The Justice Minister stated on the platform “X”: “Judicial searches were conducted at their homes, offices, and workplaces.”

He noted “allegations of interference in referee rankings, appointments, as well as their evaluations and examinations.”

Hurriyet reported that the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office is relying on financial reviews from the Financial Crimes Investigation Office, along with communication records, witness statements, and expert reports in its investigations.

There are also suspicions regarding the detainees' involvement in document forgery and systematic intimidation methods, according to the same source.

A year ago, the Turkish Football Federation's disciplinary committee suspended 149 referees for betting on matches, violating the imposed ban. Suspension periods ranged from eight to 12 months.

An investigation conducted by the federation into 571 referees in the Turkish professional leagues found that 371 of them had sports betting accounts, and 152 were actively placing bets.

According to the federation, 22 of the implicated referees (7 main referees and 15 assistant referees) officiated matches in the first division.

Neither the minister nor Turkish media mentioned this case or any potential connection between the two cases on Tuesday.

Gorlik promised: “We will continue our fight for fair football until the facts regarding the allegations that threaten trust in Turkish football are clarified, and those responsible are brought to justice.”