Ryan Babel’s comments on Galatasaray, referee influence fuel controversy in Turkish football
Dries Mertens (10) of Galatasaray talks to referee Halil Umut Meler during the Turkish Super Lig week 21 match between Galatasaray and TUMOSAN Konyaspor at RAMS Park in Istanbul, Turkiye on Jan. 25, 2025. (AA Photo)
Turkish football’s giant Galatasaray has been no stranger to controversies such as match-fixing, referee errors, illegal betting scandals, and black-market ticket sales.
Recently, former Besiktas, Galatasaray, Kasimpasa, and Eyupspor players Ryan Babel added fuel to the fire with his comments regarding the influence of referees on matches involving major Turkish clubs.
Babel discusses referee influence in Turkish Football
Appearing on a podcast hosted by former Trabzonspor player John Obi Mikel, Babel shared his insights about his time in Türkiye.
He highlighted the difficulties teams face when playing against major clubs like Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, especially when referees are involved in shaping the outcome.
Babel said: “There are many things in the Turkish league that make you wonder, ‘What’s really going on here?’ When you play away at Fenerbahce or Galatasaray, you have to beat them, their fans, and the referee. If you don’t, you’ll see how the referees can act.”
He continued: “I played in Türkiye for 10 years with four different teams. I must admit that during my time at Galatasaray, there were matches we won, and I knew we were lucky because the referee helped us a lot.”
Fenerbahce President accuses Galatasaray of match-fixing
Allegations of match-fixing have been an ongoing issue in Turkish football, with increasing suspicion surrounding Galatasaray’s championships in recent years, as well as their successes dating back to the 1980s.
On Jan. 8, 2025, Fenerbahce President Ali Koc publicly accused Galatasaray of match-fixing and pointed to controversial refereeing decisions in their favor. Koc implied that Galatasaray had won titles because of referee assistance.
Koc referred to explosive comments made by Turkish football legend Sergen Yalcin, who previously coached Antalyaspor. Yalcin claimed that in a match between Galatasaray and Antalyaspor, where his team lost 2-1, the outcome was heavily influenced by questionable calls from referee Abdulkadir Bitigen.
Yalcin further revealed that Bitigen admitted to “correcting” a previous mistake: “We made up for the mistake we made during the Galatasaray match.” Yalcin condemned this admission, calling it “shameful.”
Ongoing debate, legal action
Allegations of match-fixing continue to surround top Turkish clubs, especially Galatasaray, with questions raised about the legitimacy of some of their championships, both in recent years and dating back to the 1980s.
Fenerbahce President Ali Koc has made it clear that he plans to pursue legal action in Türkiye to investigate these claims.
Babel’s recent remarks have added fuel to the ongoing controversy, drawing attention to the recurring concerns regarding referee influence in Turkish football. This issue remains a heated topic, sparking strong reactions from fans and football officials alike.
