20.10.2026 12:21
Seven individuals consisting of referees and observers filed a criminal complaint with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu and former MHK President Ferhat Gündoğdu on charges of 'slander' and 'abuse of office'. In the petition, it was alleged that, according to WhatsApp correspondence in Gündoğdu's digital materials, Hacıosmanoğlu associated the names with a terrorist organization by sending the 2015 match lists and requested their removal from office.
Seven individuals consisting of referees and observers filed a criminal complaint with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu and former Central Referee Board (MHK) President Ferhat Gündoğdu, on charges of 'Defamation' and 'Abuse of Office'.
In the petition submitted by Attorney Halil İbrahim Atabay, the representative of the complainants Bahattin Şimşek, Kutluhan Bilgiç, Mustafa Sönmez, Emre Altun, Taner Gizlenci, Süleyman Abay and Cevdet Kömürcüoğlu, it was alleged that the suspects, using their public powers, removed referees and observers from duty with unfounded allegations and damaged their professional reputations.
WHATSAPP CORRESPONDENCE IN THE PETITION
The criminal complaint petition included WhatsApp correspondence found in the digital materials of Ferhat Gündoğdu, who was arrested within the scope of the 'Referees File' numbered 2025/83127 conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Illegal Betting and Sports Crimes Investigation Bureau.
According to the allegations in the petition, it was stated that TFF President İbrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu sent match lists from 2015 to former MHK President Ferhat Gündoğdu on July 26, 2024, associated the names in question with a terrorist organization and instructed that they be removed from duty, and that Ferhat Gündoğdu accepted this instruction and ensured that the complainants were removed from their referee and observer positions.
A NON-PROSECUTION DECISION HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ISSUED
The petition recalled that İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu had previously filed criminal complaints against the same individuals due to personal animosity remaining from the period when he served as club president. It was stated that as a result of detailed examinations by police units, MASAK and on digital data, a 'Decision of No Grounds for Prosecution' (non-prosecution) had previously been issued regarding the complainants and the file was closed. It was emphasized that the suspect's triggering of an administrative sanction process with the same allegations despite knowing of this non-prosecution decision constituted the crime of 'Defamation' under Article 267 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).
It was argued that former MHK President Ferhat Gündoğdu used his public powers in violation of the law, merit and principles of impartiality. Referring to Article 137 of the Constitution and Article 24/3 of the TCK, it was stated that unlawful orders constituting a crime cannot be carried out, and that Gündoğdu, who implemented this instruction, was also responsible for the crime of 'Abuse of Office' under Article 257 of the TCK.
IT WAS REQUESTED THAT A PUBLIC LAWSUIT BE FILED
In the petition, it was requested that forensic informatics examination reports and WhatsApp transcripts be included in the file, that the past non-prosecution file be brought from the archive, and that an indictment be drafted for the purpose of filing a public lawsuit against the suspects İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu and Ferhat Gündoğdu.