VAR statement from Murat Sancak: I will break this game!

As referee controversies continue in Turkish football, the referee meeting held last week was leaked. Following this incident, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) released the entire meeting while launching an investigation into the leak.

Former Adana Demirspor President Murat Sancakmade a post regarding the VAR riddle and the leaked meeting video. Sancak published two documents on his social media account.

Murat Sancak's post is as follows:

"EPISODE 1

Why can't we solve the VAR riddle?

Because the network of dirty relationships surrounding Turkish football has reached the point of designing the league, everyone is waiting for someone to flip the table.

A hero will emerge, just like Tatar Ramazan; My name is Tatar Ramazan! I will break this game!

VAR entered our lives to minimize debates in football. In the simplest terms, 'to reduce human error!'

But did that happen in Turkey? VAR records were leaked to some people under the table, it was revealed that some referees were listening to VAR records of other matches without authorization, and some MHK presidents who listened to the VAR records wanted to carry out a cleanup operation, saying there are GRAVE events.

But the supporters of that dirty order blocked it through the Arbitration Committee.

So, what did we learn?

Referee Serkan Çınar stated that in one match, he was shown a different position and was convinced by the VAR referee that there was a penalty in the incident. Could there be a bigger scandal than this? Well, were any sanctions applied to those responsible?

No!

The refereeing career of Özgüç Türkalp, the protagonist of the 'offside-like' incident, was ended. Türkalp's refereeing may be debatable, but I cannot help but wonder if there might be another reason for such a swift operation. Could it be that revenge was taken on Türkalp for reporting the unauthorized listening of VAR recordings?

Now, I am sharing with you the document that reveals the scandal taking place at the TFF.

The Central Referee Board (MHK), which investigated the unauthorized listening;

? To the contract signed with the company

? To the servers where the system is kept

? For the investigation, they

C A N N O T A C C E S S the LOG records!

Log records are important for the following;

How many times have the recordings of which match been listened to?

By whom or by whom have they been listened to?

Have they been downloaded to a desktop or saved?

More gravely, have these recordings been shared with others?

But those who manipulate the system have taken every precaution to prevent this investigation.

Since the main server is not at the TFF, it is impossible to even determine if an external 'line' has been tapped. In other words, someone could be listening to VAR conversations while sitting in their office or at home.

You might think the scandal ends here. But wait, there's more! VAR operators are not TFF personnel. They refrain from giving statements or providing information during investigations.

So, who is the partner in Turkey of Hawk-Eye, the company that set up this VAR service?

Do they have a secret partner?

Where is their contract stored in the TFF archives?

Why is it not being disclosed transparently?

Why did the TFF change the company from which it receives VAR services?

Who is the owner of this new company?

Does it have a secret partner?

Written statement by Özgüç Türkalp

To the Turkish Football Federation Referee Affairs Directorate

Reference: Your letter dated 04.04.2022 and numbered 2022-23

On 26.11.2021, we went to the VAR center with Tarık Ongun for the M. Başakşehir - Altay match where we were assigned, and we made preparations for our match.

At that time, Tarık Ongun requested to look at the recordings of the Galatasaray goal that was canceled via OFR in the Galatasaray - Fenerbahçe match played the previous week. The operator friend opened it on the computer.

Tarık Ongun requested to listen through the headset. The operator gave him the headset and he listened to what happened. Then we left the room. This is all I remember. Sincerely.

Özgüç Türkalp

Written statement by Tarık Ongun

To the Attention of the Referee Affairs Directorate;

In response to the question you directed to me on 04.04.2022, regarding the 'VAR Records' numbered 2022-23, I declare that I have no recollection of listening to any VAR records related to any match for which I was not personally assigned, prior to the Medipol Başakşehir - Altayspor match on 26.11.2021, where I served as AVAR.

Sincerely,

Tarık Ongun

The minutes taken

This is the official record

It was conveyed by Süper Lig referee Yaşar Kemal Uğurlu to MHK President Ferhan Gündoğdu that the VAR records of the Galatasaray - Fenerbahçe match, for which he was assigned in the 19th week, were listened to by Tarık Ongun in an unauthorized manner one week later, and that this incident was personally witnessed by Özgüç Türkalp, who was on duty there.

This information was investigated by the MHK President, and Özgüç Türkalp, who witnessed the incident, was questioned. In light of this information and following the statement made some time ago by Cüneyt Çakır to the MHK President over the phone, saying 'I have all the VAR records,' it was decided to initiate legal proceedings to clarify the aforementioned incident.

Meanwhile, a process was also initiated regarding the request for VAR records from the contracted company. Initially, attempts were made to access the contract, but it could not be obtained. A request was also made to the Legal Consultancy to ensure the procurement of the LOG records through legal channels.

The information in the procedural report was shared with the MHK PMIK, and it was decided to record it in the minutes."