‘They’re destroying Turkish Football’: Besiktas president criticizes TFF
Besiktas Club President Serdal Adali addresses the press at Tüpras Stadium, March 26, 2025, Istanbul, Türkiye. (AA Photo)
Besiktas President Serdal Adali has sharply criticized the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) following its decision to appoint local referee Yasin Kol for the upcoming Besiktas–Galatasaray derby.
This move comes after the club had officially requested a foreign referee, citing fairness concerns raised by recent controversial decisions, particularly those involving Fenerbahce and Galatasaray.
Adali accused the TFF of bias, claiming that the federation is favoring certain clubs and undermining the fairness of Turkish football.
TFF’s alleged favoritism toward Galatasaray, Fenerbahce
In his remarks, Adali condemned the TFF for what he perceived as favoritism towards the two largest Istanbul clubs, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray. “The TFF is clearly playing favorites with Fenerbahce and Galatasaray,” Adali said.
By rejecting our request for a foreign referee, they’ve sent the message that other clubs, like Besiktas, simply don’t matter. The appointment of Turkish referees to critical matches shows that they are incapable of handling the pressure.
Besiktas President Serdal Adali
‘No one should pressure us to trust Turkish referees’
Adali didn’t hold back in his criticism of TFF President Mehmet Buyukeksi. “No one should be pressuring us to trust Turkish referees,” Adali said. “A person who threatens referees in locker rooms shouldn’t be advising us on how to run football. Such a person can never solve Turkish football’s problems. He must resign immediately.”
He also called on TFF board members to step down, urging them to prioritize their honor and integrity. “If they have any self-respect, they should leave this federation. We’ve been careful with our language up until now, but if this is the language they understand, then we’ll speak to them the same way,” he declared.
Yasin Kol’s appointment: Controversy, concerns
The appointment of Yasin Kol to officiate the Besiktas-Galatasaray derby has stirred up controversy. Kol, who will be officiating his first-ever derby, has faced criticism in the past for his inconsistent decisions. Adali, along with many fans, questioned Kol’s ability to handle the intensity of a high-stakes match.
Furthermore, Kol’s lack of proficiency in English has raised additional concerns. As an international fixture, where clear communication between referees and players is crucial, his inability to communicate effectively in English, the standard language for such matches, adds another layer of concern.
This decision comes shortly after the poor performance of referee Zorbay Kucuk, who officiated the Besiktas-Gaziantep FK match. That game saw multiple controversial calls, leading to major frustration from Besiktas’s players and supporters.
‘We don’t want Turkish referees!’
Frustration over Turkish refereeing reached new heights after Besiktas’s 2-1 defeat to Gaziantep FK on March 10. Fans were vocal in their dissatisfaction, with chants of “We don’t want Turkish referees in the derby!” echoing through the stadium.
These chants came after several contentious decisions during the match, including missed penalty calls and unpunished red card offenses, such as a reckless foul by Ogun Ozcicek and sarcastic applause from Deian Sorescu after receiving a yellow card, which many fans felt should have led to a second booking.
Adali echoed the discontent of the fans, stating, “We simply want fairness, but we are being punished by incompetent refereeing that costs us points.” He reiterated that Besiktas would continue to push for more impartial officiating.
TFF’s double standards: A betrayal of fairness
Following the Fenerbahce-Galatasaray derby, which was officiated by foreign referee Slavko Vincic, Besiktas formally requested a foreign referee for their upcoming derby against Galatasaray, citing the need for consistency. However, the TFF’s decision to appoint a local referee raised further suspicions of bias, as the federation had previously set a precedent by bringing in a foreign referee for the Fenerbahce-Galatasaray match.
“This is a clear double standard. If you’re going to bring in a foreign referee for one derby, you should do the same for all derbies,” Adali stated, further fueling accusations that the TFF is playing favorites with the two largest Istanbul clubs.
Ceyhun Kazanci resigns amid growing criticism
In response to the growing controversy, TFF Vice President Ceyhun Kazanci resigned after the federation decided to appoint a Turkish referee for the Besiktas-Galatasaray derby.
Kazanci, who had previously served as Besiktas’s Sporting Director, explained his resignation in a statement: “I am resigning for the betterment of Turkish football. I thank everyone who supported me during my tenure.”
Despite his resignation, Adali expressed frustration with Kazanci, stating, “We would have preferred that he used his influence to push for change, but at least he showed some integrity. We now expect the same from the Besiktas members within the federation.”
‘We will hold the TFF accountable’
Despite the controversy, Adali remains determined and confident that Besiktas will win the derby, regardless of who the referee is. “We will win no matter who the referee is. We will be monitoring every decision closely,” he said, emphasizing that Besiktas would also be watching Galatasaray’s actions throughout the match.
Adali warned that the TFF’s ongoing decisions could seriously harm the future of Turkish football, calling on the country’s leaders to take immediate action to address the issues plaguing the sport. “The future of Turkish football is at risk. If things continue this way, the game we love will be destroyed,” he concluded.
TFF’s role in Turkish football’s decline
In his final remarks, Adali claimed that the current state of Turkish football was a direct result of the TFF’s poor decisions.
The TFF is undermining the integrity of the game. They have lost the trust of Besiktas and the fans, and their continued influence will only lead Turkish football into further decline
Serdal Adali, Presedent of Besiktas
As the derby approaches, all eyes will be on the TFF and how they handle the situation. The federation is now under intense scrutiny, with both Besiktas and fans calling for reforms to restore fairness to Turkish football.
