Metin Öztürk: “It Is Clear They Will Try to Stop Galatasaray Winning the Title”

Galatasaray secured a 3-2 away win over Başakşehir, but the club’s second president, Metin Öztürk, left the match focused on refereeing rather than the three points. He said Galatasaray remained leaders and now faced an important European test, while warning that the season would be difficult.

Öztürk criticized the referee involved in the match and recalled an earlier red card shown to Galatasaray’s coach during a friendly. He also referred to a rival club official who had received a 15-day ban and a 2.5 million lira fine, only for both punishments to be withdrawn after officials said they had been issued by mistake. Öztürk said he hoped the same would happen to him.

He questioned several decisions in the match, including the review of a goal by Victor Osimhen, a penalty award and an offside line. He argued that the officials had drawn the offside line from the wrong player and said the disagreements between the central and assistant referees showed how difficult the season would be.

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It is clear they will try to stop Galatasaray winning the title.

“It is clear they will try to stop Galatasaray winning the title,” Öztürk said. “But whatever you do, Galatasaray will win the championship again with its head held high, together with its supporters, management and players.”

Öztürk also criticized the federation’s use of foreign VAR referees. He said officials considered strong enough for domestic matches were kept for those games, while others were sent abroad for VAR assignments. He described the shifting federation messages about foreign VAR officials and trust in referees as a persistent problem.

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But whatever you do, Galatasaray will win the championship again with its head held high, together with its supporters, management and players.