Referee Elif Karaarslan has been banned for life by the Turkish Football Association following allegations of an inappropriate relationship with 61-year-old referee observer Orhan Erdemir.
As per The Sun UK, the decision came after the federation allegedly viewed a sex tape purportedly showing Karaarslan and Erdemir engaged in a sexual encounter.
The Turkish Football Federation quickly moved to suspend both Karaarslan and Erdemir after the controversial video surfaced online.
According to the report, Karaarslan was "slapped with a lifetime ban after allegedly appearing in an X-rated clip with a referees' official nearly three times her age."
The 24-year-old, however, vehemently denies the accusations, claiming that she is not the woman featured in the video.
She further insists that the video was artificially generated, likely with the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
In a bold response, Karaarslan has announced her intention to pursue legal action to clear her name.
"I will have a long road ahead of me legally, but I will overcome it. I will defend my cause until the end."
Before transitioning into refereeing, Karaarslan was a football player, even playing for Besiktas, one of Turkey's top football clubs.
Her love for the game ultimately led her to pursue a career as a referee, where she had been making strides within the Turkish football scene.
Beyond the football field, Karaarslan has also built a significant online following, amassing over 382,000 Instagram followers who support her both in her professional career and her personal passion for the sport.
Comments