- The Turkish Football Association imposed sanctions on both officials on October 4
- Elif Karaarslan’s lawyer claims that the alleged video was made with AI
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A female referee has denied appearing in a sex tape with an official almost three times her age after the pair were sanctioned by the Turkish Football Association.
Elif Karaarslan, 24, and Super League referee Orhan Erdemir, 61, were suspended on October 4.
The Turkish Football Federation’s arbitration committee confirmed their appeal had been rejected with Karaarslan’s goal resulting in a 90-day ban from football-related activities.
Erdemir was given a 45-day suspension.
The sanctions reportedly follow the alleged emergence of a sex tape featuring the couple The sun.
Referee Elif Karaarslan, 24, has been handed a 90-day ban by the Turkish Football Association.
Karaarslan has denied appearing in an alleged sex tape that reportedly led to her ban
Referee observer Orhan Erdemir, 61, was also reportedly seen in the alleged video
“I will still have a long road ahead of me legally, but I will overcome it in the strongest and most robust way,” Karaarslan said, as reported by The sun.
‘I look forward to your full support and love in this process.
‘Crying, screaming and being sad are not things I would do. I’m not.
‘I will stand by my cause until the end. I am just one of many who are harmed. I hope I’m the last.’
A lawyer representing Karaarslan issued a statement on social media claiming the video was generated using AI.
“An edited video has been published on social media, which was not the original and was created entirely through artificial intelligence from someone else’s social media account and is in no way related to the customer,” the statement said .
‘If you watch the video it becomes very clear that the image is not clear and that the parties in the relationship have been completely computer edited.
“If you take into account this editing video, which was made with malicious and deliberate intentions, of a video belonging to completely different people, for material and moral gain, everyone will face a similar situation tomorrow.
“The false images published on social media and websites claiming to belong to my client Elif KARAARSLAN and the allegations about the ongoing trial are completely contrary to the truth.
A lawyer representing Karaarslan has claimed that the video was generated using AI
“Accounts found to be spreading false news and sharing offensive content about our client to gain interaction on social media accounts have been identified and we would like to inform the public that all necessary actions will be taken to initiate the legal process against these individuals.”
Erdemir, who was a FIFA referee between 1999 and 2002, claims his reputation has been ruined as a result of the case.
“My career as a referee and observer, which I have maintained proudly and without blemish for more than thirty years, has been turned upside down because the relevant person shared the information,” Erdemir said, as quoted by the Sun.
“My reputation in the eyes of my family, friends and the refereeing community has been destroyed.”
