21.09.2025 17:20
Fenerbahçe President Ali Koç stated that the remarks made by the President of the Turkish Football Federation, İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, regarding the referee of the Trabzonspor - Gaziantep FK match were incorrect. Koç expressed that Hacıosmanoğlu's call made in the middle of the night was unnecessary and stated that referees would be apprehensive about officiating Trabzonspor matches.
Fenerbahçe President Ali Koç stated that the remarks made by Turkey Football Federation President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu regarding the referee Arda Kardeşler for the Trabzonspor - Gaziantep FK match were incorrect and a mistake.
"THE REFEREE WILL BE NERVOUS"
Ali Koç said on HT Sports live broadcast, "I couldn't follow what happened in the Trabzonspor match. I read the president's statements in the newspaper. The situation in the Trabzon match seems strange, but if there is a fuss just for that, what situations have occurred in Turkey, my friend? Every referee going to a Trabzon match will be nervous. Is there a problem that requires such a strong call to be made at midnight? I don't know! My grandfather used to say, 'Before making an important decision, if you are writing a letter or making a decision, sleep on it for a night.' What I read is astonishing! What will other referees think while officiating a Trabzonspor match? Won't they think, 'Oh no! Let's be careful, we don't want trouble'?"
"HACIOSMANOĞLU MADE A BIG MISTAKE"
Continuing his statements, Koç said, "The federation president made a big mistake! Maybe he did it with good intentions, but he made a big mistake! You are brushing aside a situation for which the whole of Turkey has given two penalties with two paragraphs written by the MHK for foreigners; 'Jayden Oosterwolde threw himself to the ground, the hand was in a natural position...' I told the president, 'Forget that, what do your eyes see? You have been in football for so long, forget what the guy wrote.'
The president who approaches our situation in that way cannot approach the situation in the Trabzonspor match in the same way! There is a lack of standards here! I don't know how they will fix it! Every referee going to a Trabzon match will be nervous!" he expressed.