03.12.2025 15:05
In the Fenerbahçe-Galatasaray derby, referee Yasin Kol, who came into the spotlight with his controversial decisions, became one of the most talked-about figures in Turkey due to his rapid rise and his 101,000 TL Prada jacket. Born in the Sürmene district of Trabzon, Kol started his career as a security guard before becoming a referee. However, in 2024, he was deemed 'insufficient' by the TFF and was relegated to a lower division, but in the following season, he was assigned to the top division again.
Referee Yasin Kol, who came to the forefront with controversial decisions in the Fenerbahçe-Galatasaray derby, has become one of the most talked-about figures in Turkey due to his background, rapid rise, and a 101,000 TL Prada jacket.
ALL EYES ON HIM AFTER THE DERBY
Referee Yasin Kol, who sparked great controversy with his decisions in the derby that ended in a 1-1 draw, became the center of attention in Turkey after the match. Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek reacted to Kol's management and held a private meeting with TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu. These developments brought the question "Who is Yasin Kol?" back to the agenda.
FROM SECURITY GUARD IN TRABZON TO THE SUPER LEAGUE
Born in the Sürmene district of Trabzon at the age of 37, he completed his education at Sürmene High School. He worked as a security guard for a period and started refereeing as a side profession during the same time.
RISING IN REFEREEING
He started his career in lower leagues, particularly at the Regional Amateur League level. He served as the fourth referee in the Super League for the first time on March 3, 2019. In the 2020–2021 season, he began officiating as the main referee in Super League matches.
TFF'S "INSUFFICIENT" REPORT AND HIS RETURN
In 2024, he was demoted to lower-class refereeing by the TFF on the grounds of being "insufficient." However, in the following season, he was reassigned to the upper class and began officiating in Super League matches. This rapid return became a topic of discussion, especially due to his hometown connection with TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu.
BECAME THE "UNCHANGING" REFEREE OF DERBIES
Another notable aspect of Yasin Kol is that he has been assigned to all derby matches of Galatasaray this season. The fact that all three derbies resulted in point losses for Galatasaray intensified the reactions of the yellow-red fans.
THE PRADA JACKET INCIDENT
Leaving the stadium with a 101,000 TL Prada jacket after the derby caused a huge stir on social media. Some Galatasaray fans reacted with comments like, "He was a security guard, now he's wearing Prada."