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With the first three weeks of the 2025-26 Super Lig completed, controversial decisions from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system have dominated the football agenda. Incorrect calls, especially in high-profile matches, reignited the debate over bringing back foreign referees.
In several critical moments during the opening weeks, VAR either failed to intervene or its interventions were widely deemed wrong. The backlash spread quickly on social media and TV shows, while some clubs formally urged the Türkiye Football Federation (TFF) to reappoint “foreign referees with international experience” for VAR duty.
Last season, TFF occasionally assigned foreign referees to the VAR booth in heated matches. The move was initially welcomed but soon drew criticism as foreign officials also produced controversial calls.
Some clubs argued they struggled with communication and lacked understanding of Turkish football dynamics, while others highlighted their impartiality and global experience.
Following a recent meeting with the Central Referee Board (MHK), TFF confirmed that only Turkish referees will operate the VAR system for the rest of the season.
Officials emphasized that the decision was made to support the long-term development of local referees and strengthen the domestic refereeing system.
The football community remains split. Supporters of the decision argue that “mistakes happen everywhere” and the priority should be improving the system.
Critics insist that foreign referees face less pressure and tend to make more objective calls in decisive matches.
Referee decisions in Super Lig influence not only match outcomes but also the league’s overall atmosphere. While the new policy may not silence debates in the short term, TFF sees it as a strategic investment in Turkish refereeing.
The coming weeks will show whether trust in local referees can outweigh calls for international experience.
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