02.11.2026 23:30
A harsh response came from Deniz Ateş Bitnel, the referee of the Galatasaray-Trabzonspor match played in 2016, to TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu's betting allegations regarding the match. Former referee Bitnel, reacting to TFF President Hacıosmanoğlu's remarks about Mustafa Yumlu and red cards, challenged him by saying, "First of all, if you don't prove that Mustafa Yumlu punched me, you are a slanderer."
Former referee Deniz Ateş Bitnel did not remain silent about TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu's statements regarding the Galatasaray-Trabzonspor match 10 years ago. The former referee rejected the allegations directed at him and responded to TFF President Hacıosmanoğlu with harsh words.
"IF YOU DON'T PROVE IT, YOU ARE A SLANDERER"
After Turkish Football Federation President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu reopened the 2016 Galatasaray-Trabzonspor match to debate, a statement came from the match referee Deniz Ateş Bitnel. Former referee Bitnel, reacting to TFF President Hacıosmanoğlu's words that Mustafa Yumlu punched the referee in the match, demanded that the claim be proven. The former referee used the following statements in his statement: "İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu said on a television channel, using my name, that Mustafa Yumlu punched me in the Galatasaray-Trabzonspor match! First of all, if you do not prove that Mustafa Yumlu punched me, you are a slanderer."
HE ALSO RESPONDED TO THE BETTING CLAIM
Former referee Deniz Ateş Bitnel also opposed TFF President Hacıosmanoğlu's assessments regarding the match's added time and the number of red cards. The former referee, arguing that the TFF President accused him of betting, used the following words: "He claimed that I ended the match early in order not to send him off, and that if I sent him off, the match would drop out of the betting, and accused me of betting!"
"I AM READY TO LAY OUT MY ENTIRE RECORD"
The former referee argued that after the 2016 match, the prosecutors of the period carried out the necessary investigations. Former referee Bitnel, emphasizing that he would not avoid a new investigation into the allegations against him, made the following statement: "The prosecutors of that period carried out the necessary investigation and could not find a single stain. I am ready to be investigated again and to lay out my entire record."
HE CRITICIZED TFF PRESIDENT HACIOSMANOĞLU OVER DETAINED INDIVIDUALS
Former referee Deniz Ateş Bitnel made another criticism of TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu in his statement. Pointing to debates about the people appointed by TFF President Hacıosmanoğlu, the former referee asked this question: "Instead of first talking about the people you appointed who are detained, what are you aiming at by making up events that did not happen as if they did?"
WHAT DID TFF PRESIDENT HACIOSMANOĞLU HACIOSMANOĞLU SAY?
TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu had called for an investigation into the bets placed on the Galatasaray-Trabzonspor match played in 2016, in which four red cards were shown. TFF President Hacıosmanoğlu made his call with these words: "The bets placed on the 2016 Galatasaray-Trabzonspor match should be investigated." Questioning the bets placed on the number of red cards in the match, the TFF President said: "How much was bet on 2 red cards in that match? This should be investigated." TFF President Hacıosmanoğlu also used the following statements regarding the scope of the investigation: "I am making a call, let it be investigated. He quit refereeing; if he is testifying as a witness, the legal and illegal bets on that match should be investigated."
THE MATCH WITH 4 RED CARDS BECAME A TOPIC OF DEBATE AGAIN
In the Galatasaray-Trabzonspor match played in 2016, referee Deniz Ateş Bitnel showed red cards to four Trabzonspor players. Salih Dursun taking the referee's red card and showing it to Bitnel was one of the moments remembered from the match. Years later, TFF President Hacıosmanoğlu also questioned the match's added time and put forward this claim: "The match should have had 8-10 minutes of added time, but the referee added half a minute. Why? Because if one more red card had been shown, the match would be cancelled." The TFF President continued his statement with these words: "If a 5th red card had been shown, the match would be cancelled and the bet would burst." Speaking also about Mustafa Yumlu, Hacıosmanoğlu used the expressions, "Mustafa Yumlu punched at the end of the match, the referee did not show a red card." Then he made this assessment: "Would you not show a red card to a player who punches the referee? He was going to be kicked, he does not extend [the match]. If a 5th red card had been shown, the match would be cancelled and the bet would burst."