The recent events in the Turkish Super Lig have once again brought the issue of refereeing controversy to the forefront. Istanbulspor president Faik Sarialioglu made a bold statement by calling his team off the pitch during their match against Trabzonspor. It all started when Florian Loshaj was brought down by Batista Mendy’s challenge in the box, but the referee did not award a penalty to Istanbulspor.
Frustrated by this decision, Istanbulspor found themselves even more disillusioned when Trabzonspor managed to score, taking a 2-1 lead through the former Southampton striker Paul Onuachu. It was at this point that the Istanbulspor players were pulled off the field by their own president in the 73rd minute, leading to the suspension of the match. The game did not resume on Tuesday night, leaving both teams and the fans with a sense of disappointment and uncertainty.
The scenes that unfolded were indeed astonishing. Istanbulspor striker Simon Deli, who is currently on loan from Adana Demirspor, was seen on his knees, seemingly pleading with his own president not to take the team off the field. The incident has drawn attention and criticism from various quarters, with Trabzonspor coach Abdullah Avci describing it as a “sad day for football.” The actions of Sarialioglu have put the spotlight on the Turkish Football Federation, who will now have to make a decision regarding the outcome of the match.
The situation surrounding Istanbulspor is far from ideal. As it stands, they find themselves at the bottom of the Turkish Super Lig, having only managed to accumulate eight points from their first 15 games. The team’s performance has been lackluster, with just a single victory in their last eight matches. This latest incident only adds to their woes, leaving them in a precarious position as they search for a way to turn their season around.
It’s worth noting that this controversy comes on the heels of another incident that led to the temporary suspension of the Turkish Super Lig. Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca notoriously punched referee Halil Umut Meler in the face during a match on December 12. As a result, Koca has been handed a permanent ban from the sport, and Ankaragucu has been fined two million lira (£54,000) and will play their next five home games without the support of their fans. These episodes of unrest involving fans and club officials highlight the need for stricter measures and a greater emphasis on fair play and sportsmanship.
With the Turkish Super Lig returning after its suspension, the hope was that the focus would return to the game itself. However, the recent controversies involving Istanbulspor and Ankaragucu serve as a reminder that there is still work to be done to ensure the integrity and fairness of football in Turkey. It remains to be seen how the Turkish Football Federation will handle these situations and what actions will be taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The eyes of football fans across the country are now on the governing body, awaiting their response to these troubling events.
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