First a punch, now a game canceled in protest: football referees in Turkey appear to be “cleared to attack”. The problems are homemade.
Being a football referee is a challenge all over the world – but in some places it is a special one. “You have to be honest: the referee is the poor sod of Turkish football,” says Tuncay Özdamar.
He is head of the Turkish editorial team at WDR Cosmo and follows the Süper Lig closely. “The referees are criticized endlessly, even on television shows. Most football commentators are biased.”
Tuncay Özdamar, sports show, December 20, 2023 4:14 p.m
After the events of December 11th, a rethink initially seemed to occur. Faruk Koca, president of Ankaragücü, broke referee Halil Umut Meler’s cheekbone with a punch – in the middle of the pitch and in front of the cameras.
The consequences of the punch
The Turkish Football Association (TFF) banned Koca for life and suspended league operations for the time being. “All the players and officials who attack the referees at every opportunity and don’t know where it will end should think about what happened tonight,” said TFF President Mehmet Büyükeksi.
The referees suddenly received encouragement from all sides, including Ecmel Faik Sarialioglu, president of Klub Istanbulspor. “He said that you have to protect the referees and take care of them,” reports Özdamar. “But a week later he did the exact opposite.”
President forces game to be canceled in protest
Here’s how: Sarialioglu was so upset about a referee’s decision in Istanbulspor’s home game against Trabzonspor on Tuesday that he took his players off the field, forcing the game to be abandoned. This was preceded by a duel in Trabzonspor’s penalty area, which neither referee Ali Sansalan nor his video assistant rated as a foul worthy of a penalty. In direct return, Istanbulspor conceded 1:2 – after the abandonment this was also the final score.
“Istanbulspor have been treated unfairly since the start of the season,” said Sarialioglu’s deputy Ömer Saral afterwards. “Today we said enough is enough. Our president could no longer endure these injustices. We must stop these people now.”
Süper Lig in a “crisis of trust”
Saral certainly meant the referee directly, but also the big picture. “There is a crisis of trust in the Süper Lig,” says Ozdamar. “The association is not strong, the referees have no protection. Under the enormous public pressure, they automatically make mistakes, even serious ones. Sometimes they can’t whistle what they see for fear that a strong club might criticize them.” This could then result in the association no longer employing them, says Özdamar.
Özdamar knows examples of all the big clubs putting verbal pressure on referees. “If this continues with the referees, then we won’t finish the league,” said Erden Timur, the deputy boss of Galatasaray. Özdamar quotes a former Besiktas president as saying that referees do not deserve tolerance.
And then there is Ali Koc, current president of Fenerbahce. “He called on supporters to follow the referees everywhere, says Ozdamar. “If you see them on the train or on the street: just take photos of them. This way the referees are released like fair game for the hunt. That no longer has anything to do with sport.”
Tricky referee appointments
Koc also keeps a list of referees who should not officiate Fenerbahce’s home games, says Özdamar – without any opposition from the association. Artificial intelligence is said to be helping with referee appointments in the Süper Lig. “However, Ali Palabıyık, a former referee, recently stated that these lists will ultimately end up on the table of association president Büyükeksi.” This then exchanges some names. “He does this out of fear because he doesn’t want to mess with the strong presidents of the big Istanbul clubs.”
The negative headlines from the Süper Lig are causing unrest at a time when the Turkish national team has caused euphoria with its successful qualification for the European Championship. And at a time when Turkey is preparing for 2032 – when it will host the European Championships together with Italy.