06.09.2026 00:00
Fenerbahçe President Aziz Yıldırım reacted harshly to the referee decisions after the derby lost 2-1 to Beşiktaş. Yıldırım said, "If necessary, let the Turkish leagues not be played for 1 year," while announcing that he would meet with the President of the Football Federation.
In the 4th week of the Trendyol Super League, Fenerbahçe lost 2-1 to Beşiktaş at home. The yellow-navy team thus left the field with a defeat for the second time in the first 4 weeks of the league.
Speaking after the match, Fenerbahçe President Aziz Yıldırım admitted that his team did not play well while reacting to the referee's decisions.
"WE DIDN'T PLAY WELL, BUT THE REFEREE SHOULD CALL WHAT HE SEES"
Referring to the matches in the first weeks of the league, Yıldırım said:
"We haven't made any comments for 4 weeks. Two penalties were not given in the Gençlerbirliği match. We didn't raise our voices. The Konyaspor match, again referee mistakes... The penalty position on Vedat in the Samsunspor match... Today, here again, referee mistakes... We didn't play well. I congratulate Beşiktaş. Two penalties were again not given to us. In the 5th minute, one of their defenders takes the ball with his hand, and the penalty is not given. Kerem's position, he trips him, and again he doesn't give it. I admit we didn't play well, but the referee should call what he sees."
"IF NECESSARY, TURKISH LEAGUES SHOULD NOT BE PLAYED FOR 1 YEAR"
Continuing his words about the referees, Aziz Yıldırım also called on the MHK:
"If I start talking, no one can silence me. The MHK President will find a solution to this. If necessary, Turkish leagues should not be played for 1 year! You cannot let a referee who was beaten by a president continue his refereeing. Shame! A shame for Turkish football. This referee has been [like this] for 4 weeks... Tonight, I am voicing things for the first time. Other teams are complaining. The Football Federation will see where things are going, and precautions will be taken. I will speak differently in a few weeks. If the referee had given the penalties, the match might have ended 2-2. I have been in football for 40 years. I have always been in management."
"WE WANT JUSTICE"
Yıldırım, stating that Fenerbahçe wants justice, continued his words as follows:
"We all came and put our hands under the stone. It's shameful, really. Penalties are not given in Gençlerbirliği, Konyaspor, Samsunspor... This week, another mistake. We want justice. If we can't play, let us lose, but if we play, let us win. For 4 weeks, it's been prevented because of the referees. They act as they wish. The Federation will find the solution. What's the point if we speak? This won't continue! Please, everyone, come to their senses. Yesterday the match was played, [teams] are complaining about referees. Today we are complaining. The Federation must produce a solution for this. If not, there was no change in duty [of referees], and that will go in other directions."
WILL MEET WITH THE FEDERATION PRESIDENT
Aziz Yıldırım also announced that he would meet with the President of the Football Federation regarding the incidents:
"We are telling what happened. Those in charge will do their work. I will go to the Federation and meet with the president. There is no need for them. VAR came, why did it come? If it doesn't see it either, who will? A message to the commentators: Some referee commentators come out and don't see their former administrations. Their comments are wrong. They both misinterpret the fans and explain what they see differently. They should both work and make accurate comments."
"THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE SQUAD"
Yıldırım, making a brief assessment regarding the team's squad, said, "The squad is good, there is no problem with the squad. We need to work more."
Summary: Fenerbahçe President Aziz Yıldırım, reacting to the referee decisions after the derby lost 2-1 to Beşiktaş, said, "If necessary, Turkish leagues should not be played for 1 year." Yıldırım also announced that he would meet with the President of the Football Federation regarding the incidents.