Turkish Football Federation TFF is opening an investigation into the course of events following an incident during the match between Sivasspor and Galatasaray. Sivasspor striker Rey Manaj (27) committed a vicious foul on Galatasaray’s Baris Alper Yilmaz (24) and was not penalised for it.
Referee Turgut Doman was called to the screen by the video referee with the advice to give a red card, but Doman decided against and gave Manaj no card. It led to great discontent among Galatasaray, who turned to the referee after the match.
“We are eagerly looking forward to the VAR calls after the inhuman foul on Baris Alper Yilmaz in the last minute of the match! Despite all the 90 minutes of scandalous refereeing decisions; THE GOOD ALWAYS WIN!” they said.
TFF statement
The TFF published a statement condemning the incident on X after the match. “We deeply regret that Baris Alper Yilmaz, a valuable player of Galatasaray and our national team, suffered an injury as a result of an unsportsmanlike tackle during today’s Sivasspor – Galatasaray match.”
“As the Turkish Football Federation, we would like to inform the public that this sad incident will be investigated in detail and that we will do everything possible to ensure that those responsible receive the necessary disciplinary punishment. The health and safety of every player who is part of Turkish football is our highest priority.”
TFF president furious
İbrahim Haciosmanoglu, the president of the TFF, reacted to the incident in a telephone interview with online medium BTV, calling it a “plot” to make him look corrupt.
“They are conducting an operation on me. We will not allow anyone to play with our dignity even if he is a referee. I have never seen anything so disgusting in my life. He (Baris) plays for the national team, our national pride, and is our brother. We cannot possibly condone this action.”
Hacıosmanoglu is currently at loggerheads with Galatasaray. Club president Dursun Ozbek on Thursday filed charges against Hacıosmanoglu for threatening, insulting, hating and inciting violence against Ozbek after Haciosmanoglu spoke critically of the Galatasaray man.
“The TFF president used threatening statements about me in a broadcast he attended yesterday,” Ozbek said outside the Palace of Justice in Istanbul. “The threat to the chairman of Galatasaray is considered a threat to the whole community. We have also filed a criminal complaint with the head of the prosecutor’s office. I am sure Turkish law will do what is necessary. I think football should not reach this level and I trust the Turkish law”
