Besiktas basketball questions referee’s spouse ties in Türkiye Cup semifinal

Besiktas has raised significant concerns regarding the referee assignments and decisions made in the ING Women’s Türkiye Cup, specifically following the semifinal match between Besiktas BOA and Emlak Konut.

The controversy centers around Serdar Unal, a referee for the match, who is married to Hande Unal, a member of the CIMSA CBK Mersin team.

In a statement, Besiktas emphasized that it was unacceptable for Serdar Unal to be part of the officiating crew for a match that would determine the opponent for the final, given his personal connection to Hande Unal.

The club stated that this situation represented “a significant error” and went against ethical standards, highlighting that such a relationship should not have a role in officiating professional sports matches, especially in crucial moments like the semifinals.

Besiktas also pointed out that Serdar Unal was assigned to another match just 24 hours later—a Besiktas Fibabanka game. The club expressed concern about the psychological impact of his previous controversial performance, calling for a fair and impartial approach in the upcoming match.

“Besiktas has always embraced the philosophy of playing with honor and winning through rightful means,” the statement read.

“However, our team has been unfairly excluded from the final of the ING Turkiye Cup. Our request is not for privilege but for justice. We hope that the influence of the referee’s earlier controversial performance will not continue in the Besiktas Fibabanka match.”

The statement concluded by demanding an urgent response from the Central Referee Board regarding the referee appointments for the 2025 ING Women’s Türkiye Cup Final Four.

This incident highlights the increasing scrutiny over referee appointments in Turkish women’s basketball and the need for transparency and fairness in officiating.