Galatasaray launched a blistering attack on Turkish match officials during Sunday's 3-0 victory over Fenerbahce, accusing them of harboring "evil inside" just days after suspending ties with the Turkish Football Federation.
The Istanbul club posted two explosive messages on X at half-time, claiming they were denied two penalties while leading 1-0. "Despite these referees, we're still leading 1-0. We see what you're doing, your plans, the evil inside you," the club wrote. "This order won't go on like this. We're here, we won't be silent! In the end, the good ones will win again!"
Victor Osimhen opened the scoring before Baris Yilmaz and Lucas Torreira sealed the win in the second half, extending Galatasaray's lead at the top of the Super Lig to seven points with three matches remaining. Fenerbahce missed a first-half penalty and had former Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson sent off by referee Yasin Kol, who issued 11 yellow cards in total.
The outburst follows a long-running feud between Turkish clubs and officials. In 2023, referee Halil Umut Meler was punched by MKE Ankaragucu's president, prompting a league suspension. Last year, ex-Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho was fined £15,000 for questioning referee impartiality, and several teams have walked off the pitch in protest over decisions.
Galatasaray president Dursun Aydin Ozbek announced two days earlier that "all relations with the Turkish Football Federation under its current management have been suspended." The federation previously suspended 149 referees and assistants after an investigation revealed hundreds of officials held betting accounts.