Ferdi Karadoruk linked to child exploitation material investigation

An investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the Central Referee Board has uncovered evidence involving child exploitation material. According to a report from the U.S.-based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), obscene video files involving children were uploaded via a WhatsApp account verified by a GSM line belonging to Ferdi Karadoruk, the Istanbul Branch President of the Turkish Football Referees and Observers Association.

The NCMEC report indicates the upload occurred on January 11, 2024. Forensic experts noted that the content in question is not typically available through standard internet searches but is often found in private, paid sharing groups.

Karadoruk has stated that he has used the mobile line, which is registered in his mother's name, for 18 years. He denies sharing the material, claiming his WhatsApp account was hacked by third parties in January 2024. While Karadoruk provided screenshots of an email sent to WhatsApp support regarding the alleged hack, expert examinations have not yet found data to support the claim that the account was compromised.