The Turkish Football Federation announced Wednesday that a foreign referee will officiate the upcoming Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derby, one of the most heated rivalries in European football, a decision that follows growing controversy over refereeing standards and allegations of bias.
TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu said the move was aimed at reducing tensions between the rival clubs and preventing further disputes over officiating. “We want the quality of football to be the focus instead of debates over refereeing decisions,” Hacıosmanoğlu said at a press conference in İstanbul.
The decision comes amid escalating criticism from club officials, fans and analysts, with Fenerbahçe manager José Mourinho and Galatasaray executives openly questioning the fairness of referees in recent weeks. Hacıosmanoğlu said the federation had consulted both clubs before making the announcement, though he criticized Galatasaray for requesting a scheduling change to the meeting where the matter was discussed.
Critics say the move reflects deep-seated corruption and a lack of trust in Turkey’s football administration, a result of years of scandal and allegations of match-fixing. Some social media users and commentators joked that if Turkish football needs foreign referees to ensure fairness, perhaps the country should also consider hiring foreign judges to oversee its legal system.
The Turkish Football Federation first hired foreign VARs and now they are hiring foreign referees because no one trusts local referees and there is no environment where local referees can do their job without interference and intimidation. However, Turkey needs to hire foreign…
— Ali Yıldız (@aliyildizlegal) February 19, 2025
The Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derby will take place on February 24 in İstanbul. The TFF has not yet named the foreign referee who will officiate the match.