Elif Karaarslan, a 24-year-old Turkish referee, has been handed a lifetime ban from football after being accused of appearing in a sex tape with a much older referees’ observer. The Istanbul-born Karaarslan, who formerly played for Besiktas before an injury ended her playing career, strongly denies the allegations.

Uncensored leaked video of Orhan Erdemir and Elif Karaarslan

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The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) issued the ban after reports claimed that Karaarslan had been filmed with 61-year-old referees’ observer Orhan Erdemir. Like Karaarslan, Erdemir also received a lifetime ban from the TFF. Karaarslan, who has been officiating matches in Turkey since her injury, insists she is not in the video and plans to challenge the ruling.

“I will have a long legal road ahead, but I will overcome it in the strongest way possible,” Karaarslan stated. She vowed to continue her fight and expressed her determination, saying, “Crying, screaming, and being sad is not who I am. I will stand by my cause until the end.”

With 363,000 social media followers, Elif Karaarslan has gained significant attention. She called for support and solidarity, hoping that her case would be the last of its kind. Karaarslan remains steadfast in her defense and intends to appeal the ban.

Before becoming a referee, Karaarslan was a player for Besiktas. However, injuries cut short her career, leading her to pursue officiating in Turkish football. The lifetime ban has drawn widespread attention due to her public profile and the severity of the accusations.

Meanwhile, Orhan Erdemir, a former FIFA referee, acknowledged that the video had been circulated without his consent, but he admitted that his career is now over. He expressed devastation over the damage to his personal and professional life, saying, “My honour in my family, social circle, and the refereeing community has been blown away.”

Erdemir, who officiated in Turkey’s Super Lig and served as a FIFA referee from 1999 to 2002, became a referees’ observer after retiring from active refereeing. His involvement in the controversy has effectively ended his career in the football world.