Galatasaray defeats Basaksehir 2-1 amid referee controversies

In Week 19 of the Turkish Super Lig, Rams Basaksehir hosted Galatasaray in a tightly contested match. Galatasaray secured a 2-1 victory, earning all three points on the road. Meanwhile, tensions flared during the match due to a controversial penalty decision in the first half as Galatasaray players protested after an incident in the penalty area.

Baris Alper Yilmaz starred for Galatasaray, scoring twice—once in the 42nd minute and again in the 59th minute. Rams Basaksehir’s only goal came from Krzysztof Piatek in the 53rd minute.

With the win, Galatasaray increased their points total to 50, while Rams Basaksehir remained at 26 points. This marked Basaksehir’s first home loss of the season in the Turkish Super Lig.

Another away win ✅#IBFKvGS pic.twitter.com/rTyZeVUxmq

— Galatasaray EN (@Galatasaray) January 12, 2025

Controversial penalty decision in 1st half

Tensions flared in the 28th minute of the match after a penalty decision was contested. Galatasaray’s Dries Mertens sent a cross into the box, where he collided with Basaksehir defender Hamza Gureler.

Galatasaray players immediately protested, arguing that Hamza had handled the ball, and urged referee Atilla Karaoglan to review the play.

However, Karaoglan allowed play to continue. After consulting with VAR official Yasar Kemal Ugurlu, Karaoglan decided not to review the incident further, believing the initial call was correct.

The referee’s decision sparked strong reactions from Galatasaray’s players and staff. Fans of the club also voiced their frustration on social media, criticizing the decision.

Ongoing referee controversy and Fenerbahce’s allegations

The match took place amid continued controversy surrounding referee decisions in the Super Lig. Fenerbahce President Ali Koc has recently accused Galatasaray of match-fixing during the previous season, claiming referee bias in favor of the club.

Koc’s accusations, raised during a press conference, allege that controversial officiating decisions benefitted Galatasaray in several matches, raising questions about the integrity and transparency of refereeing in Turkish football.

Despite Galatasaray’s remarkable form, the ongoing referee controversies have overshadowed their success, with accusations of match-fixing continuing to fuel debates about fairness in Turkish football.