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FIFA-listed Turkish referee Arda Kardesler will take charge of the UEFA Conference League Play-Off first leg between Belarus’ Neman Grodno and Spain’s Rayo Vallecano on Thursday, August 21.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 21:00 local time at Szeged Grosics Akademia Stadium in Szeged, Hungary, according to UEFA.
Kardesler will be assisted by Mehmet Emin Tugral and Deniz Caner Ozaral, while Ozan Ergun will serve as the fourth official. Onur Ozutoprak will operate as VAR, with Omer Faruk Turtay serving as AVAR for the fixture.
While FIFA-listed referee Arda Kardesler continues to officiate internationally, he frequently faces criticism in Türkiye for his decisions in domestic matches. His refereeing in Super Lig derbies has drawn sharp comments from both club officials and fans.
In 2024, his performance in the Galatasaray vs. Besiktas derby sparked heated debates on social media and among sports analysts. Kardesler was accused of being unable to make decisions against Galatasaray while making calls against Basiktas.
Some of the fouls, penalties, and red card decisions that he failed to give in favor of Besiktas were seen as decisive for the outcome of the match.
Rumors circulating in football circles suggest that Kardesler was previously placed on a “blacklist” by the Central Referee Committee (MHK) for supporting referees who had been removed from duty.
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