Galatasaray has accused Turkish football officials of deliberately undermining the club after referees denied them penalties during their 3-0 victory over Fenerbahçe in a heated Istanbul derby.
The club's frustration centres on what it views as inconsistent and unfair officiating throughout the match. Despite the convincing scoreline, Galatasaray believes the referees missed clear penalty-worthy incidents that should have been awarded to their side during the game.
"This evil won't continue," Galatasaray said in a statement, using sharp language to describe what the club sees as a pattern of bias from Turkish football's governing bodies. The club stopped short of naming specific officials but made clear its displeasure with the standard of decision-making in the fixture.
The accusation carries weight in Turkish football, where questions about referee impartiality have surfaced before. Galatasaray's statement suggests the club sees the penalty decisions as part of a broader attempt to influence outcomes in favour of rival clubs or against Galatasaray specifically.
Fenerbahçe has not yet responded to the allegations. The Turkish Football Federation, which oversees match officials, did not immediately comment on Galatasaray's claims.
The derby, one of Turkish football's most intense rivalries, remains closely watched by fans and media for signs of fairness in officiating. Galatasaray's public rebuke signals the club will continue to scrutinise referee decisions in future matches and may pursue formal complaints with the federation if the pattern continues.
The federation is expected to review the match footage and respond to Galatasaray's concerns in coming days.
