11.02.2025 12:00
Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek responded to the request for a foreign referee for the derby match against Fenerbahçe. When asked, "What do you have to say about Fenerbahçe's request for a foreign referee in the derby?" Özbek replied, "That's a good question. I have concerns about the perspective from which the question is being asked. We were the first to request a foreign VAR, but we did not receive support that day. Then this need arose."
Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek responded to the question about having a foreign referee for the derby match against Fenerbahçe. Speaking at a press conference for a sponsorship agreement, Özbek made statements regarding the discussions about foreign referees before the Fenerbahçe derby.
"WE WERE THE FIRST TO REQUEST FOREIGN VAR"
In response to the question, "What will you say about Fenerbahçe's request for a foreign central referee in the derby?" Özbek said, "That's a good question. I have concerns about how to view the question. We were the first to request foreign VAR, but we did not receive support that day. Then this need arose. Last year, a foreign VAR referee came, but if this is done in a planned manner, it yields results. It was successful last year, but this year... It happened in the last match on Sunday. Just bringing in a foreign referee or VAR... We shouldn't evaluate the need in that way."
Dursun Özbek stated, "Qualified individuals should come to this job. Today, we saw that there was no preparation in this regard. The foreign referee must be at a level that will contribute to football. Otherwise, I don't think the results will be bright when we take a foreigner from there and bring them here. It is important to bring competent and successful foreigners and have them officiate matches here. The TFF needs to strengthen its efforts in this regard," he said.