Elif Karaarslan, a female referee, has earned a lifetime ban from Turkey’s FA (TFF) after allegedly having sex with a former FIFA referee named Orhan Erdemir.
Erdemir, who serves as a FIFA referees’ observer, has been issued a similar punishment by the TFF. As a result, he has now lost his license.
Though he has admitted to appearing in the video, he maintains it was shared without his consent. He said:
“My honour in my family, my social circle and the refereeing community has been blown away. In addition to my financial losses, the emotional damage I have suffered is indescribable”.
However, 24-year-old Elif Karaarslan maintains she is not the one in the video and will pursue justice. She said:
“I look forward to your full support and love in this process. Crying, screaming and being sad are not things I would do. That is not me.”
“I will stand by my cause until the end. I am just one of many who are being harmed – I hope I am the last.”