A refereeing controversy has erupted in the Süper Lig after referee Yasin Kol awarded a penalty to Fenerbahçe without a clear view of the incident, prompting sharp criticism from prominent sports journalist Ali Naci Küçük.
Speaking in a video clip, Küçük accused Beşiktaş vice-president Serdal Adalı of contributing to what he called a “theater,” pointing out that Adalı had previously endorsed Kol as experienced enough for the match. “Yasin Kol gave the penalty to Fenerbahçe without even seeing it,” Küçük said, questioning why the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has not removed the refereeing board (MHK) from duty.
Kol, a 38-year-old Upper Class referee from Trabzon, has officiated several high-profile and often contentious derbies in the Süper Lig.
Küçük, a longtime Galatasaray correspondent for Hürriyet, expressed bewilderment at what he sees as misplaced animosity. “They’re still talking about Galatasaray. Your feelings got hurt today, didn’t they! What’s this Galatasaray animosity?” he added, reporting that a penalty not in Fenerbahçe’s favor was given, yet Beşiktaş-linked commentators immediately turned their criticism toward Galatasaray.