23.02.2025 16:20
The appointment of Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić for the Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derby has sparked discussions in Turkey. Vinčić has also become a hot topic in his home country of Slovenia. In Slovenia and throughout the Balkan region, the promotion of the major match is being done with the referee's photo. While the Slovenian press has reported on conspiracy theories regarding Vinčić, it has been emphasized that he is a good choice for Turkey.
All eyes are on Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic, who will officiate the Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derby. Since his name was first mentioned, Vincic has sparked discussions in Turkey and is also a topic of interest in his home country, Slovenia.
THE DERBY PROMOTION IS BEING DONE WITH VINCIC
The Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derby, which will be played at RAMS Park on Monday, February 24 (tomorrow), has always received extensive coverage in the foreign press for various reasons. This time, the focus is on the referee who will officiate the match. The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has made a groundbreaking decision after many years by appointing Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic for this critical match, drawing attention from the media in Slovenia and the entire Balkan region. The promotion of the Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derby is being done with a photo of Vincic.
"CONSPIRACY THEORIES ARE BEING DISCUSSED"
Sportklub, the most followed sports channel in Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, and Romania, made a striking report regarding Vincic's appointment for the derby. The report stated, "All eyes are on Slavko Vincic in this magnificent football spectacle. He has already stirred up quite a commotion. This final derby is not just the number one sports topic; it is a national issue for us. Both teams have tens of millions of fans, and everyone is talking about Vincic. There are even conspiracy theories linking prominent figures from Fenerbahçe, such as Acun Ilıcalı, and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin."
"TURKS CHOSE A GOOD REFEREE"
The report continued, "Due to Slavko Vincic, Maribor and Slovenia are being researched intensely. The Turks are trying to learn everything they can. They have contacted us and many media organizations. He is undoubtedly the best referee in Slovenia and one of the best referees in Europe. Although we sometimes get frustrated with the performances of Slovenian referees and have discussions, it is an undeniable fact that Slavko Vincic is the best. Jose Mourinho is pleased with the appointment of a top-level referee."
TFF PRESIDENT EXPLAINED THE SELECTION PROCESS OF VINCIC
Turkey Football Federation President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu recently made statements regarding the selection process of Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic, which has caused discussions:
"We did not receive any applications for foreign referees. The Referee Board makes the appointments and seeks our approval. We cannot decide based on the clubs; otherwise, they should come and officiate themselves! We gave them the appointments, and they will still receive them. The referees said, 'We will bring in a foreign referee to protect you from criticism.' They have no issues. As if Slavko Vincic is coming in a pre-arranged manner! The Referee Board President Ferhat Gündoğdu started correspondence with many countries a week ago. There are correspondences with England, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, and Romania. England stated that they do not provide referees abroad. The Netherlands spoke with the referee and said he would come. However, the federation spoke with the referee board. In fact, the President of the Dutch Federation was our guest today. He said, 'We have problems until March; we cannot provide referees,' and apologized. The Referee Board President said that a Bosnian referee and a Slovenian referee were left on Tuesday morning. I said, 'If we go with the Bosnian referee, there is Edin Dzeko, and there could be issues.' Then we chose the Slovenian referee. My first visit when I became president was to the President of the Slovenian Federation, and we met immediately on Tuesday. He accepted it. If we had previously discussed and agreed with Aleksander Ceferin, would we have had this much correspondence? We even spoke with the President of the Dutch Federation.
We talked with Ceferin for three hours last week, but we discussed the representative office that will open in Istanbul. It will open around April; that is the main topic. Ceferin asked, 'Why are they criticizing referees so much in Turkey?' He called Rosetti and requested the refereeing mistakes from the five major leagues. Interestingly, the least mistakes are in Turkey! These are the numbers! It seems like there are no other teams in Turkey except for two teams; are we going to sacrifice the country's football for two teams? Is Slavko Vincic coming to operate in Turkey? Is he going to end his entire future in one match in Turkey? Are you bringing a contestant for Survivor? It is absurd to attribute such great meanings to people! The TFF is on one side, and the UEFA President is on the other... Acun Ilıcalı can bring contestants from Slovenia; it would be attractive. This is an insult to UEFA and TFF! Everyone has pictures with everyone. Can there be such a huge nonsense? Everyone should be reasonable; there is no plan behind our heads. We will continue fairly and equally."
WHY DID GALATASARAY NOT WANT VINCIC?
The Galatasaray management, which is inclined to the view that the appointment of Slavko Vincic from the same country came after Fenerbahçe Vice President Acun Ilıcalı met with Slovenian Aleksander Ceferin, does not want Vincic due to Ilıcalı's ownership of the Maribor Club in Slovenia. The 45-year-old referee, born in Maribor, also has close ties with UEFA President Alexander Ceferin, who is also Slovenian.
WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN GALATASARAY AND TFF
Turkey Football Federation President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu invited the presidents of both clubs to meet in Riva before the Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derby. The president of the yellow-reds, Dursun Özbek, found this invitation insincere and rejected it. Later, Hacıosmanoğlu held a meeting and announced that a foreign referee would officiate the big match, responding to Özbek's "insincere" remarks. Following this, Galatasaray released a statement after the name of Slavko Vincic came to the forefront, directing three questions to the federation. Cimbom also objected to the federation's decision due to Vincic's birth in the city of Maribor, Slovenia, owned by Fenerbahçe Vice President Acun Ilıcalı, and Ilıcalı's close ties with UEFA President Ceferin, who is a citizen of the same country as the 45-year-old referee. The TFF rejected the yellow-reds' objection and later announced that the Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derby would be officiated by Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic.