Who is Elif Karaarslan? The Expelled Referee Finding New Success

Elif Karaarslan, a former referee in the Turkish football leagues, has been permanently suspended from officiating by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF). The decision follows the emergence of a video allegedly featuring Karaarslan in a sexual relationship with a match official.

The TFF’s disciplinary action extended to Orhan Erdemir, a 61-year-old referee observer, who was also suspended in connection with the claims. The reports surrounding the video surfaced in October 2024, leading to the immediate removal of both officials from their positions.

Career and Background

Born on July 9, 2000, in the Kadıkoy neighborhood of Istanbul, Karaarslan began her journey in football as a promising midfielder. She later transitioned from playing to officiating, starting her career as a referee in 2020.

According to multiple accounts, she was inspired to enter the field of officiating by a foreign female official. After serving as an assistant referee in her first match, she progressed to officiating games for top Turkish U17 teams.

Response to Allegations

Following the suspension, Karaarslan broke her silence via social media to address the allegations and the authenticity of the circulating video. She asserted her innocence, claiming that the content featuring her and Erdemir was not authentic.

I am not the person in that video, and facing such serious accusations is an attack on a woman’s honor.

Elif Karaarslan

Karaarslan further alleged that the video was generated using Artificial Intelligence and described the footage as being of extremely poor quality. She stated that she intends to pursue a legal journey to confront the accusations with strength and determination.

Transition to Social Media

Despite the permanent ban from football officiating, Karaarslan has maintained a significant presence as an online personality and influencer. She utilizes social media platforms to share content focused on football, fashion, and lifestyle.

The controversy surrounding her suspension led to a surge in her digital popularity. Since the scandal erupted, her Instagram following increased to nearly half a million people. Reports indicate that she has transitioned into a new profession where she is seeing financial success.

Her online growth has been attributed to her engaging personality and athletic presence, which helped her build an enormous internet fan base both before and after her departure from the Turkish Football Federation.