In a rollercoaster of events, football in Turkey resumed after last week's shocking attack on a referee. However, the resumption was short-lived as a Super League match between Istanbul Spor and Trabzonspor was abruptly stopped. The match was suspended after Istanbul's chairman instructed his players to leave the pitch, with Trabzonspor leading 2-1 at the time. Now, it is up to the Turkish Football Federation to decide if and when the match will resume.
This latest incident comes in the wake of the federation imposing a permanent ban on Fruitkoca, following the club president's assault on a referee. The incident has sparked national soul-searching as Turkish football grapples with its fair share of disciplinary issues. The aggressor has received a lifetime ban from football, potentially faces criminal charges, and even jail time.
Meanwhile, a highly entertaining match between Bishak Sahir and Sevaspor went relatively unnoticed amidst the chaos surrounding Turkish football. Bishak Sahir triumphed with a 3-1 victory, but many focused their attention on the conduct of officials. This match marked the first game back since professional football was suspended in the country, and fans were hoping for a smoother experience. However, the spotlight continued to shine on the referees.
Ironically, the home team manager was absent from the touchline. He received a suspension due to accumulating four yellow cards in previous matches, partly for his disrespectful behavior towards referees. The officials themselves played a significant role in the match, awarding two penalties and overturning a disallowed goal through VAR.
Following the match, the losing manager expressed his disillusionment with the officials' decisions. This raised concerns about the larger issue of respect for referees within Turkish football culture. Despite these criticisms, there were players like the Polish striker from Bishak Shahir who felt that the officiating could have been better.
The Turkish Football Federation is now under pressure to take decisive action. They have promised stricter penalties for those who abuse referees, but one former referee emphasized that this is a pivotal moment for Turkish football. Ultimately, the decisions made by the federation in the coming month will determine the lasting impact of any potential changes.
As Turkey grapples with disciplinary issues and a need to crackdown on bad fan behavior, the focus is also shifting towards players, coaches, and even team presidents. The hope is to create an environment of mutual respect and fair play, where incidents like the attack on a referee become increasingly rare. Only time will tell if Turkish football can successfully address these challenges and move towards a more harmonious future on and off the pitch.
