The Turkish Football Federation has issued a decision to ban young referee Elif Kararslan from any football-related activity for life after a “sexual” video allegedly featuring her with match inspector Orhan Erdemir surfaced. Despite an appeal against the sanction, it was ultimately rejected.
Kararslan, 24, embarked on her officiating career in Turkey following an injury that ended her playing days with Beşiktaş. She now faces one of the toughest challenges in her professional life. In her statements, she has affirmed her commitment to pursuing the legal route with determination, asserting that she will overcome this ordeal with strength and the support of her fans. She added, “I won’t cry or be sad, that’s not who I am. I’ll keep fighting until the end.”
Kararslan’s lawyer released a statement on social media clarifying that the circulated video was created using artificial intelligence techniques and has no connection to his client. He emphasized that the fake video was posted from another account in an attempt to harm her reputation.
Conversely, Orhan Erdemir, 61, a former international referee from 1999 to 2002, expressed his regret over the impact of this issue on his long-standing career, stating, “My reputation, which I’ve maintained with pride for over 30 years without any blemish, has been destroyed.”
The British newspaper “The Sun” reported that the penalty followed the alleged video’s circulation, noting that Kararslan is quite popular on social media, with more than 363,000 followers on Instagram.
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