Derby commentary from Galatasaray's Yelkencioğlu: 'So many police...'
Galatasaray Vice President Niyazi Yelkencioğlu made sharp criticisms regarding the security measures taken at the stadium and the use of a foreign referee following the Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derby. While Yelkencioğlu stated, "So many police disrupted our concentration," he also remarked regarding referee Vincic, "What did he do more than Turkish referees?"
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As the debates surrounding the Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derby played earlier this week continue, Galatasaray Vice President Niyazi Yelkencioğlu made a statement regarding the derby, saying, "Having so many police officers disrupted our concentration." Yelkencioğlu also commented on the match referee, Vincic, saying, "What did he do more than our Turkish referees? Did he do anything extraordinary?"
"WHEN THERE ARE THIS MANY POLICE, PEOPLE CANNOT EVEN CHEER"
Galatasaray Vice President Niyazi Yelkencioğlu made significant remarks at a sponsorship agreement signing ceremony.
Speaking about the derby, Yelkencioğlu said, "The derby was placed under too much stress. There were no such security measures in the first half. We were leading 3-0, and it became 3-1 with a gift from the referee. It was a match that could have been 4 or 5. Small things happen in these derbies, but having so many police officers on our pitch disrupted our concentration. Years ago, something like this happened in a European match. When there are this many police, people cannot even cheer. It is not that things were not thrown because the police were there; these incidents do not happen in our stadium anyway. We saw who threw what. Burning flares were thrown at people's heads. I do not know how these flares got in," he said.
Yelkencioğlu responded to the question regarding the derby match referee: 'Coach Okan did not like him, but Slavko Vincic was praised quite a bit. Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor also want this referee. What is your opinion?' as follows:
"They wanted this referee before. If they had seen the derby, they would not have wanted him. We did not see any great quality. What did he do more than our Turkish referees? Did he do anything extraordinary? If we look at the time the ball stayed in play, it is the same as with Turkish referees. Generally, the decisions and cards were against us... It depends on everyone's perspective. We had said we wanted a good referee; we did not specifically ask for this referee, but this referee was assigned. He officiated 3 matches in 5 days, which is also not normal."