Foreign referee claim for Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derby: Instruction to 'start the search'

Debates continue at full speed over whether a foreign referee will officiate the Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe match, which will be played in the 25th week of the Süper Lig and holds great importance in the championship race.

Sabah Newspaper Sports Director Murat Özbostan evaluated the latest developments regarding the debated issue of a foreign referee for the derby to be played at RAMS Park on Monday, February 24, in his column today.

According to Özbostan's report, the Turkish Football Federation discussed the issue at its board meeting and told the Central Referee Board (MHK) to "start the search."

While the TFF wants the best to ensure "there is no controversy" over the name, the MHK has begun working on UEFA's top 5 elite referees following this request from the board of directors.

It was stated that the Federation has requested an official letter with wet signatures from both clubs to make this decision.

Murat Özbostan, who claimed, "If the Turkish Football Federation receives an official letter from both clubs, a foreign referee will officiate the derby," commented, "Fenerbahçe will make an official application, but Galatasaray will not. If there had been a decision at the beginning of the season that 'foreign referees will officiate the derbies,' then there would have been no controversy at all."