Foreign Referee Assigned to Turkish Derby Amid Match-Fixing Allegations

The highly anticipated showdown between Turkish football giants Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe will be officiated by a foreign referee, Turkish Minute reports.

The Turkish Football Federation made the decision in response to escalating controversy over refereeing standards and mounting accusations of bias.

Allegations of match-fixing and corruption continue to swirl around Turkish football. By appointing an international official, the federation aims to defuse speculation, particularly in a derby as heated as Galatasaray vs. Fenerbahçe.

Fenerbahçe’s Portuguese head coach, José Mourinho, has repeatedly criticized officiating this season, claiming referees have been unfair to his squad. Galatasaray’s management has voiced similar frustrations. Just recently, Turkish football saw a major controversy when Adana Demirspor players walked off the pitch mid-game in protest against what they deemed unfair refereeing decisions.

For context: the Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe match is set for February 24 in Istanbul. After 23 rounds, Galatasaray leads the league with 63 points, while Fenerbahçe sits six points behind in second place.