Claim about Halil Umut Meler from Erman Toroğlu after the Galatasaray - Konyaspor match! 'He must be afraid...'

In the 21st week of the Super Lig, league leaders Galatasaray defeated Konyaspor 1-0 at home with a penalty goal from Osimhen. With this result, the Yellow-Reds increased the point gap with their closest follower, Fenerbahçe, to 9 points, with a game in hand.

The decisions of the match referee, Halil Umut Meler, sparked debate in the sports community. Following the match, Konyaspor criticized Meler's decisions with a social media post stating, "He has become 'Umut' (hope) for someone again."

Former referee Erman Toroğlu evaluated the controversial positions of the Galatasaray – Konyaspor match in his column for Sözcü.

Regarding Osimhen's penalty position, Toroğlu assessed, "Osimhen, coming from behind, tries to steal the ball, while Adil kicks Osimhen's tendon while trying to hit the ball. The position is a clear penalty. Actually, a referee like Halil Umut Meler should have seen this."

In the continuation of his article, Toroğlu stated that Ahmed Kutucu should have been sent off after receiving a second yellow card, expressing his reaction toward Halil Umut Meler. Toroğlu noted the following:

"Ahmed Kutucu enters the game. He gets a yellow card a minute later, which is correct. Four minutes later, Halil Umut Meler cannot show the courage to give a clear yellow card to the same player. He is probably afraid that he will be criticized if he sends off a Galatasaray player. But Halil Umut Meler, you are influencing the result; what does it matter to you if it's Galatasaray? Then this comes to my mind: would he have sent him off if a Konyaspor player had made the same move? I think he would have."

"HIS CHEMISTRY WAS RUINED AFTER THE ASSAULT INCIDENT"

So to speak, this comes to my mind: the issue of the imam and the congregation. If Halil Umut Meler does this, what won't the others do? But this young man's chemistry was ruined after the assault incident. There is another point I don't understand. You come to the Galatasaray team, you get a yellow card in the first minute, and then you make that move. What would you do if you were sent off and Galatasaray lost points? The same Kutucu handles the ball in the 87th minute this time. If he keeps making these moves, Galatasaray will suffer a lot from this player."

It seems to me that the Konyaspor player exaggerated the situation a bit during the incident involving Yunus's elbow and arm. Halil Umut Meler, who showed him a yellow card, failed to show cards in positions that were even more deserving of one. There is the disallowed Osimhen goal. In this play, the player who headed the crossed ball is not offside, but the player in front of him is. If this player hadn't moved at all, the goal would have been considered valid. But by moving toward the ball, he gains an advantage for himself and his team. That was the VAR interpretation. It seemed correct to me as well.