02.06.2026 14:01
Former referee and sports commentator Erman Toroğlu will be tried on charges of 'publicly disseminating misleading information' with a prison sentence of 1 to 3 years for his statements about Galatasaray Club on a TV program.
An indictment has been prepared against former referee and sports commentator Erman Toroğlu, seeking a prison sentence of 1 to 3 years for the crime of 'publicly disseminating misleading information' due to his statements about Galatasaray Club on a television program.
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was stated that Toroğlu, through his shares, acted with the motive of creating anxiety, fear, or panic among the public by trying to mislead the public and create perception with false information related to public order, apart from official statements made by state institutions and organizations regarding football, and negatively affecting trust in state institutions and organizations.
The indictment stated that Toroğlu committed the crime of 'Publicly Disseminating Misleading Information'.
'I DID NOT STATE THAT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY TRUE'
It was reported that Toroğlu stated in his defense, "In the past, I have worked as a wholesaler, footballer, referee, journalist, and sports commentator on various channels. I still work as a sports commentator. I also work as a journalist since I have a press card. I made the statements you asked about on the program. The meeting between the TFF President and the Galatasaray Club President regarding the statements took place before the live broadcast. Since it was of close interest to the public, I also investigated the content of this meeting. After the meeting between the TFF President and the club president, I asked multiple sources about the incident. As far as I know, the meeting between the TFF President and the Galatasaray Club President took place a few months ago. Apart from the presidents, no one else was present at this meeting. Naturally, my sources did not have direct information or observation. They only told me based on hearsay. On the live broadcast, I said that there was such a claim regarding the meeting between the parties and that they should come out and make statements. I did not state that it was absolutely true. I have no concrete information or documents regarding the meeting between the presidents. Indeed, it is not possible for me to have information or documents about a verbal conversation between two people. Before making this statement, I did not have any conversation with either the TFF President or the Galatasaray Club President regarding the content of the allegations."
PRISON SENTENCE OF 1 TO 3 YEARS SOUGHT
In the indictment, it was requested that Erman Toroğlu be punished with a prison sentence of 1 to 3 years for the crime of 'publicly disseminating misleading information'.