Galatasaray have launched a fierce attack on Turkish referees, accusing them of harbouring "evil inside" during their 3-0 victory over Fenerbahce on Sunday. The Turkish champions extended their lead at the top of the Super Lig table but used the match to voice their discontent with the officiating, days after suspending relations with the Turkish Football Federation.
Half-Time Outburst
At half-time, with Galatasaray leading only 1-0, the club posted on social media: "Despite the 2 penalties not awarded to us, we're closing out the first half 1-0 ahead." They followed up with a more incendiary statement: "Despite these referees, we're still leading 1-0. We see what you're doing, your plans, the evil inside you. This order won't go on like this. We're here, we won't be silent! In the end, the good ones will win again!"
Match Details
Victor Osimhen opened the scoring for Galatasaray, with Baris Yilmaz and Lucas Torreira adding goals in the second half. Fenerbahce missed a first-half penalty and later saw former Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson sent off. The win puts Galatasaray seven points clear of Fenerbahce with three games remaining.
Wider Context of Referee Controversy
The incident is the latest in a long-running dispute between Turkish Super Lig clubs and officials. Last year, the Turkish Football Federation suspended 149 referees and assistant referees after an investigation revealed hundreds of officials had betting accounts. Former Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho frequently criticised Turkish referees, claiming he would not have taken the job if he had known the extent of the problems. He said: "We are not fighting the opposing team, we are fighting the system. And fighting the system is the hardest thing. Before coming to Turkey I heard these stories, but honestly I didn't believe them. But after actually coming here, it was much more serious than what I heard."
