‘We don’t want Turkish referees’: Besiktas fans voice frustration

Following Besiktas’ 2-1 home defeat against Gaziantep FK, Turkish refereeing is once again under scrutiny.

The match, officiated by Zorbay Kucuk, saw multiple controversial decisions, leading to significant frustration among Besiktas players, management, and fans.

Throughout the game, Besiktas supporters expressed their dissatisfaction with chants of “We don’t want Turkish referees in the derby!” echoing around the stadium. Their frustration stems from several key decisions that they believe unfairly influenced the outcome of the match.

This issue has reignited the ongoing debate about foreign referees in Turkish football, especially after the Galatasaray-Fenerbahce derby was officiated by Slavko Vincic to ensure neutrality in a high-stakes encounter.

With Besiktas set to face Galatasaray in an upcoming derby, the club has now officially requested a foreign referee.

Key decisions that sparked controversy

Referee Zorbay Kucuk’s performance has been heavily criticized for several decisions, including:

• Missed penalty calls: In the 75th minute, Ciro Immobile went down inside the box after a challenge from Bruno Viana, but the referee waved play on. Earlier, Rashica was also brought down in the penalty area, yet no foul was given.
• Unpunished red card offenses:
  • Ogun Ozcicek escaped a second yellow card despite a reckless foul.
  • Deian Sorescu sarcastically applauded the referee after receiving a yellow card, which is typically punished with a second booking in many leagues.
  • Ertugrul Ersoy’s late challenge went unpunished, despite VAR having the opportunity to review it.

These incidents have raised concerns about the consistency and accuracy of Turkish referees, with many questioning whether domestic officials can fairly handle high-pressure matches.

Former players react: ‘Justice cannot be ensured with Turkish referees’

Former Besiktas player Ali Eren Beserler voiced strong criticism following the match

We’ve seen these kinds of decisions before. Turkish referees make too many mistakes, and unfortunately, those mistakes often change the outcome of matches. If we want fairness, especially in critical games, experienced foreign referees should be considered.

Former Besiktas player Ali Eren Beserler

Similarly, former Besiktas manager Sergen Yalcin pointed out the inconsistencies in the TFF’s referee appointments.

If you bring a foreign referee for the Galatasaray-Fenerbahce derby, you must do the same for Besiktas-Galatasaray. You’ve already set a precedent. If you now refuse to assign a foreign referee for another big match, it raises questions about fairness.

Former Besiktas manager Sergen Yalcin

Besiktas management requests a foreign referee

Following the match, Besiktas board member Orhan Ozalp confirmed the club has formally requested a foreign referee for their upcoming fixtures:

“Our request is simple—if foreign referees are used in some derbies, they should be used in all. We are waiting for an official response from the Turkish Football Federation (TFF).”

Besiktas also reinforced this stance through an official statement on social media, saying:

“Our fans have made their message clear: We don’t want Turkish referees in the derby.”

What will the TFF decide?

TFF President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu has stated that no final decision has been made regarding foreign referees in future matches, emphasizing that all clubs will be consulted before any ruling.

However, Besiktas’s request has now placed significant pressure on the federation to clarify its stance.

As the debate continues, Turkish football faces an important question: should high-stakes matches be officiated by foreign referees to ensure greater neutrality, or should domestic referees be trusted to handle these crucial games?

With the Besiktas-Galatasaray derby approaching, all eyes will be on the TFF’s next move.