04.04.2026 18:10
Gençlerbirliği's head coach Volkan Demirel, after the match against Göztepe, said, "I am not someone who talks a lot about referees, but when the time comes, it needs to be said. If we are asking why Turkish football is not developing, the referees have a very big share in this. There is nothing we can do; we will focus on the next match."
In the 28th week of the Trendyol Super League, Gençlerbirliği lost 2-0 to Göztepe at home. Gençlerbirliği's head coach Volkan Demirel made striking statements during the press conference held after the match.
''ALL RESPONSIBILITY IS MINE''
The young coach, who took responsibility, criticized the referee's decisions, saying, "All responsibility is mine. We lost, all responsibility belongs to me. I am the one who trains this squad, who puts this squad out, who plays the players, makes substitutions, and does everything, but there is also this; maybe we can say yes to the second penalty, but never for the first. You all watched the Kosovo-Turkey match, and you all saw it in the best way. Of course, I am not saying this as an excuse, but I think the referee's decisions were effective in today's match. They could have beaten us, I am not saying anything about that, but today we can think that the referee had a bit of an effect. I repeat, all responsibility is mine." he said.
''REFEREES HAVE A VERY BIG SHARE''
Expressing that the reason for the lack of development in Turkish football is the management of referees, Volkan Demirel stated, "I had given an interview saying I do not think about the bottom, but now we need to think about the bottom. We will act accordingly. This was the expectation, most people think about not being relegated. We will do everything we can to avoid relegation. When I came here, I said the team was very good. I trust my players, of course, if the referee's decisions and the conditions on the field allow us. I am not someone who talks a lot about referees, but sometimes it needs to be said. If we are asking why Turkish football is not developing, referees have a very big share in this. There is nothing to do, we will look at the next match," he expressed.