Beşiktaş Voices Strong Concerns Over Refereeing

Following a 1–0 defeat to Galatasaray in the Trendyol Süper Lig, Beşiktaş JK leadership and coaching staff expressed sharp criticism of refereeing decisions and the performance of the VAR system during the high-profile Istanbul derby.

Speaking after the match, Vice President Hakan Daltaban praised the club’s supporters for their unwavering support but voiced frustration at what he described as a failure of fairness on the pitch. “In football, the team that wants to play should be allowed to play. Those who try to prevent the game should not be given an advantage,” Daltaban said, emphasizing that the focus of the sport should be the players and fans rather than referees or off-field controversies.

Daltaban highlighted multiple incidents during the game that he believes were mishandled. He specifically pointed to a moment involving Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen, who, according to Daltaban, committed an offense that should have resulted in a second yellow card, yet the VAR failed to intervene. “There is something called VAR, there is technology. You see the position. You can rewind it and watch it again. No one can explain to us that it simply wasn’t seen,” he stated. He went further, proposing a symbolic gesture for transparency: “Bring children from the sports academy on May 19 and put them in the VAR room, I swear they would do a better job.”

In an official statement, Beşiktaş JK also called on the Turkish Football Federation to clarify who was present in and around the VAR center in Riva during the match and to provide camera recordings from the VAR room and its corridor. The club questioned the role of Portuguese VAR instructors reportedly acting as trainers and demanded answers regarding whether any unauthorized individuals were present. “It is essential that the leadership of the Turkish Football Federation respond to our questions immediately,” the club stated.

Head Coach Sergen Yalçın echoed Daltaban’s concerns, criticizing inconsistencies in officiating and what he sees as political influence in Turkish football. “Sané should have been sent off in the 20th minute. Osimhen should have been sent off with a second yellow card, one hundred percent. So how is this game supposed to be played?” Yalçın questioned, highlighting discrepancies with other matches where similar fouls led to dismissals.

Yalçın expressed disappointment in the way the match was handled despite Beşiktaş controlling much of the game in the second half. “We created chances and could have turned the match around, but it was unlucky. There’s nothing to do, things like this happen in football,” he said. However, he stressed that referees and VAR officials have a duty to enforce the rules consistently, warning that the lack of proper application undermines the integrity of the league.

The remarks from Beşiktaş leadership reflect growing tension in Turkish football, with calls for greater transparency and accountability in officiating, especially in high-stakes derby matches that draw attention from millions of fans across the country.

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