Besiktas president urges TFF to introduce foreign referees for fairness in derbies

Besiktas President Hasan Arat recently met with Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu at the TFF’s Riva headquarters, calling for the use of foreign referees to address growing concerns over officiating standards in Turkish football.

After their meeting, Arat spoke with the media, expressing the frustration within the Besiktas community over recent refereeing controversies, especially in high-stakes derby matches. “We expect fair officiating in Türkiye. In our European games, we don’t encounter these issues, so that same standard of fairness should be applied here,” Arat said.

Arat urged the TFF to consider foreign referees for the upcoming derby, adding that Besiktas would continue advocating for foreign officials in the VAR system. He warned that failure to address these concerns could lead to broader social issues: “If referees continue to overlook fairness, it could lead to serious social backlash.”

Swedes surprised by Galatasaray derby officiating standards

Arat also shared the reaction of the Swedish team Malmo, who were reportedly taken aback by the officiating in recent Turkish derbies. “When Malmo was here, they asked, ‘What happened in that derby (with Galatasaray)?’ They had watched the match beforehand and were shocked by the refereeing decisions. Even they were surprised,” Arat said, emphasizing the psychological impact these incidents have had on Besiktas players.

TFF President Haciosmanoglu acknowledged that clubs have been calling for foreign referees and admitted, “I don’t support the mistakes we’ve seen in VAR. We are working to professionalize the Central Referee Committee. We have both supporters and critics, but we are committed to fixing this flawed system.”

Besiktas president calls for fair play

Arat also highlighted Besiktas’s upcoming European fixtures and stressed the importance of fair competition within Türkiye’s domestic league. “The league must continue fairly. We have had discussions with the UEFA President about our upcoming match against Tel Aviv. Positive changes are on the horizon for Turkish football,” he said.

Arat addressed Besiktas fans, calling for continued support for the team and noting the psychological toll that officiating errors in derby matches have had on the players.