Istanbul Derby: Galatasaray Cut Ties With Turkish FA Over Referee Appointment

Istanbul Derby: Galatasaray Cut Ties With Turkish FA Over Referee Appointment

Sampson Adedeji

Turkish Süper Lig leaders Galatasaray have announced the suspension of all ties with the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) in protest over the appointment of referee Yasin Kol for the highly anticipated Istanbul derby against Fenerbahçe, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The decision comes ahead of Tuesday’s crucial league clash, with Galatasaray expressing strong dissatisfaction with the choice of official.

 The club cited what it described as a “consistently poor record” for the referee in matches involving the reigning champions, raising concerns over fairness and integrity.

In a statement released by the club, Galatasaray emphasized that the move to cut ties with the federation would take immediate effect, signaling a deepening rift between the club and Turkish football authorities. 

The development adds further tension to an already heated rivalry between the Istanbul giants.

Despite the off-field controversy, the match is still expected to go ahead as scheduled. 

Nigerian international Victor Osimhen is likely to spearhead Galatasaray’s attack in what could be a decisive encounter in the title race.

The situation continues to evolve, with attention now turning to how the TFF will respond to Galatasaray’s drastic stance and whether any last-minute changes will be made before kickoff.