Beach volleyball referee Altıner Akıncı’s case against Turkey over withdrawn international invitations rejected by ECHR.
Case Background
The Altıner Akıncı v. Turkey case (complaint no. 9570/23) concerned mandatory arbitration proceedings. The applicant, a professional beach volleyball referee, had her invitations to officiate two international competitions in 2021 and 2022 withdrawn after the Turkish Volleyball Federation’s Central Referee Commission excluded her from the authorized referee list.
The applicant’s appeals to the Ministry of Sport’s Arbitration Commission for Sport failed.
Legal Claims
She alleged violations of her right to a fair trial before an independent and impartial court, insufficient judicial control, and unjustified interference in her profession, citing Articles 6 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
Judicial Control in Sport
The case underscores tensions between sports governance and human rights, focusing on the removal of officials and legal recourse mechanisms.
