12.04.2026 08:50
A new operation was carried out tonight as part of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's investigation into drug and prostitution involving celebrities. Elif Karaarslan, a female referee who was banned for life by the Turkish Football Federation due to the emergence of a sexual intercourse video, was also detained in the operation.
Police teams raided entertainment venues located in the Bebek, Kuruçeşme, and Etiler neighborhoods of Istanbul. After a 1.5-hour drug search with narcotic dogs at Lucca in Bebek, the owner of the venue, Cem Mirap, was taken into custody.
INTERIORS OF SUSPICIOUS VEHICLES WERE CHECKED
It was stated that no drugs were found at the venue. Teams also checked the interiors and trunks of suspicious vehicles parked in front of the entertainment venues.
SOME FOOTBALL PLAYERS CAME OUT
Some football players were seen coming out of a venue that was searched in the Etiler neighborhood. After the searches, during which some individuals were also taken into custody, the teams left the workplaces.
FORMER REFEREE ALSO TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
As part of the operation, social media influencers Samet Liçina, Özlem Parlu, Mika Slowana, and former referee Elif Karaaslan were also taken into custody.
SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP VIDEO HAD EMERGED
Karaaslan had received a lifetime ban from the Turkish Football Federation due to the emergence of a sexual relationship video. After the scandal broke, Elif Karaaslan, who quickly gained thousands of followers, reached over 500,000 followers.
SHE HAD DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS
In a statement after the incident, Elif Karaaslan, the 24-year-old referee who was expelled by the TFF due to the allegation of "the emergence of a sexual content video tape," said, "I will have a long legal journey, but we will overcome it in the strongest and most solid way. I expect your full support and love during this process. Crying, whining, and being sad are not things I will do; that is not me. I will stand behind my case until the end. I am just one of those who are being tried to be harmed; I hope it will be the last..."
HER REFEREE CAREER ENDED BUT SHE BECAME A PHENOMENON
Born on July 9, 2000, in the Kadıköy district of Istanbul, Elif Karaaslan was officiating in lower leagues. The 24-year-old young referee gained attention not only for the matches she officiated but also for her social media posts, and after this incident, she quickly gained thousands of followers, surpassing 500,000 on Instagram.
WHAT HAD HAPPENED?
A video of the 61-year-old observer Orhan Erdemir and the 24-year-old referee Elif Karaaslan having a relationship last season had spread on social media. Following the video, the Turkish Football Federation took action and banned both individuals for life. Karaaslan, who claimed that the video was a product of artificial intelligence, stated that the person in the video was not her and that her lawyers would initiate legal proceedings regarding these allegations.