Yasin Kol and Göktuğ Hazar Erel Arrested After Trabzonspor Match
Süper Lig referee Yasin Kol and assistant referee Göktuğ Hazar Erel were detained in Trabzon following a preparation match between Trabzonspor and Drogheda United. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office ordered the detentions as part of an ongoing investigation into the Central Referee Board (MHK) covering allegations of opposition to Law No. 7258, aiding forgery of official documents, and misconduct in office. Following police processing and health checks, both officials were brought to the Çağlayan Istanbul Courthouse.
Prosecutors referred Yasin Kol to the duty criminal judgeship of peace with a demand for his arrest on charges of match-fixing and incentive bonuses, while Göktuğ Hazar Erel was referred under allegations of forging official documents. The inquiry targets financial movements, bank records, and referee assignments across Turkish football.
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Initial raw data extractions analyzed by police via MASAK examined financial transaction volumes spanning between 2012 and 2026, which were later detailed through expert financial audits.
MASAK Reports 135 million Lira Total Transaction Volume
Financial audits of Yasin Kol’s bank records revealed extensive transaction volumes over a fourteen-year period. A MASAK report dated September 30, 2026, documented that Kol had 5,978 transactions between 2012 and 2026, showing 72,1 million lira leaving his accounts and 62,5 million lira entering them, resulting in a total transaction volume of 135 million lira. Initial raw data reviews had estimated total movements near 135 million liras before separating internal account transfers.
Auditors found that Kol maintained 50 account records across 11 different banks utilizing 41 distinct IBAN numbers. The documentation recorded multiple occupational titles attached to these accounts, including sportsman, security guard, civil servant, police officer, and student. Transaction activity surged notably after 2020, accelerating sharply through the 2024 to 2026 period, with 2026 recording approximately 22,3 million lira in incoming funds against 40,8 million lira in outgoing transfers.
Referee Defense Details Income and Denies Illegal Betting
During his police and prosecutorial interrogation, Yasin Kol denied all allegations of illegal betting and financial wrongdoing. He stated that nobody gave him instructions before or after any match regarding how to officiate, asserting, “My life has never involved this amount of money or cash flow.” Kol explained that he has worked as a security guard at a university between March 2018 and August 2026 alongside his refereeing career.
Addressing his communications with MHK President Ferhat Gündoğdu, Kol stated that the board president routinely consults match officials approximately three days prior to derbies or critical fixtures to assess referee compatibility and working relationships. “I submitted the referees I get along well with to the MHK President and managed matches with his approval,” Kol said in his statement, adding that this practice applies generally to referees assigned to high-profile matches.
Match Day Financial Transfers Highlighted in Expert Audits
Expert investigators identified financial transfers occurring between Yasin Kol and other referees who shared officiating duties in specific fixtures. Out of 64 counter-parties identified among referees who worked at least one match with Kol, a subset of 50 bank transactions coincided within a six-day window spanning three days before and two days after a shared match. These transactions included 47 transfers ranging from 100 liras to 5,000 liras sent from Kol to assistant and fourth officials.
It was reported that 44 of these transactions occurred when Kol served as the primary referee of the match, with 40 executed after kickoff. The expert report contrasted these figures against shifted calendars, noting that the concentration around match days did not appear in control baselines. Kol defended his stock market investments and family loans as the legitimate sources for his asset transactions, denying any connection to illegal gambling networks.
Broader MHK Investigation Yields Multiple Arrests
The wider inquiry conducted by the Istanbul Security Directorate’s Financial Crimes Branch under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office Yasa Dışı Bahis ve Spor Suçları Bürosu has resulted in detentions. Operations targeted officials linked to alleged irregularities in referee promotion exams and financial collections.
MHK President Ferhat Gündoğdu and some MHK members and observers were evaluated as potentially linked to the crime.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Referee Investigation
Which matches and officials are examined in the financial audits?
Investigators analyzed bank transfers involving Yasin Kol and other referees listed across active referee rosters, recording incoming transactions totaling 218.668 liras and outgoing transactions totaling 853.472 liras.
What specific legal accusations led to the detention of Yasin Kol and Göktuğ Hazar Erel?
Yasin Kol was referred to court on allegations of match-fixing and incentive bonuses, while Göktuğ Hazar Erel faced a referral for the forgery of official documents following inquiries by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
How many bank accounts and institutions were linked to Yasin Kol in the MASAK report?
The MASAK and expert forensic reports established that Yasin Kol held 50 account registrations across 11 different banks utilizing 41 distinct IBAN numbers between 2012 and 2026.
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