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Istanbul rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahce ramped up tensions on Thursday ahead of Sunday’s decisive derby, exchanging tough messages over the referee appointed by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF).
The controversy arose after the governing body of Turkish football announced that Yasin Kol, one of the most debated referees this season, would oversee the match that could determine the Turkish Super Lig champion.
Galatasaray reacted firmly to the appointment, sharing a statement on social media from its president, Dursun Ozbek, saying the club has put all relations with the TFF on hold..
In response to the yellow-red club’s stark backlash, Fenerbahce posted a sarcastic message referencing Dursun Ozbek’s remarks targeting TFF President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu earlier this season.
"Don’t you dare show a yellow card… Don’t you dare show a red… Don’t you dare go to VAR… Don’t you dare give a penalty… Don’t you dare open up certain topics… ‘Don’t you dare…’ All season long, all your critical positions were on hold. Now it’s ‘relations on hold’… Is it this match’s turn?" Fenerbahce said in response..
At a press conference earlier this season, Ozbek called on Haciosmanoglu not to escalate tensions between the federation and the club, saying he had received information that the federation president might disclose their private discussions if he spoke out against him.
"Don’t you dare. Let this end here… let’s return to our main business," Ozbek said, words that later became a point of reference for rival clubs amid speculation over the content of those private discussions.
Galatasaray has come under scrutiny in recent years over major refereeing decisions seen as favoring the club, with former Ali Koc openly alleging that an "organization" had been shielding the team.
Galatasaray questioned Fenerbahce’s message, implying the club had prior knowledge of the referee appointment, asking, "What’s going on—did you make the decision together? You were the first to speak," with Fenerbahce adding, "One judges others by oneself."
Yasin Kol, 38, is a Turkish Super Lig referee who has been officiating top-flight matches. Known for his strict style and limited dialogue with players, he has become one of the most criticized officials in Türkiye, particularly due to his decisions in high-profile Istanbul derbies.
This season, he has officiated 18 matches, including three Istanbul derbies, one of which was the first meeting between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, ending in a 1-1 draw.
Most recently, Yasin Kol officiated another crucial Istanbul derby between Fenerbahce and Besiktas in Week 28 of the Super Lig, which Fenerbahce won 1-0 following a controversial last-minute penalty decision.
Both Istanbul clubs are racing for the Super Lig title, with Galatasaray holding a four-point lead and set to host the Week 31 clash.
While Galatasaray is chasing a fourth consecutive title, Fenerbahce is aiming to end an 11-year title drought, the longest in its history.
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