Former Turkey striker and current Gaziantep FK head coach Burak Yılmaz has launched a criticism against the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) and the Central Referee Committee (MHK), claiming he is being targeted due to past disputes with football authorities.
In a statement shared via sports outlet A Spor, Yılmaz accused MHK President Ali Kuran of acting with impunity, adding that major clubs are protecting the referee leadership. He suggested that unresolved issues with the TFF are now negatively affecting his work at Gaziantep, alleging that some federation officials continue to make threatening remarks toward him.
Yılmaz emphasized that he has remained in his position only out of loyalty to the club president, despite not taking any salary. He stated that he has personally ensured young players receive their wages and bonuses while tolerating repeated mistreatment. The coach made clear he is not financially invested in the team, yet has absorbed considerable rudeness from officials. He warned that he will soon speak publicly in detail, hinting at deeper problems inside the TFF and among referees who, he claims, are openly making critical errors without accountability.
The 40-year-old coach, who retired as a player in 2023 after a prolific career with Turkey’s biggest clubs, did not hold back on the state of Turkish football. He questioned why no action is being taken against the MHK president, asserting that refereeing quality has fallen to an unacceptable level.