Foreign referee debate in the derby... Sports writer Erkut Tekin: Don't we trust our own children?

Speaking to 12punto on the subject, sports writer Erkut Tekin said, 'For the first time in Turkish football history, a league match will be officiated by a foreign referee. This decision could lead to the conclusion: "Don't we trust our own children?"'

Reminding that this is the first time in Turkish football history that a league match will be officiated by a foreign referee, Tekin stated, 'In a country where the economy, the healthcare system, working life, and even human rights are frequently debated, it is certainly not strange that sports are also off-balance. As Simon Kuper said, "football is never just football," especially in our country.'

Tekin added the following:

'The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President has finally announced whether the derby will have a local or foreign referee. The decision was, as expected, a foreign one. This decision could lead to the conclusion: "Don't we trust our own children?" That is one side of the issue. The other side, of course, is the intensity of the football climate in the country. The tension, especially between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, has engulfed the entire football community.

Some executives, coaches, and even players do not refrain from pouring gasoline on the fire. Social media is in a dire state. The Central Referee Committee (MHK) is inadequate, and the referees truly feel abandoned in this atmosphere. And this situation leads them to make even more mistakes.'