Was the Icardi-Djiku incident in the derby a penalty? Former referees weigh in

Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray faced off in the 18th week of the Süper Lig.

The critical derby, which was highly significant for the title race, ended as it began.

In the 22nd minute of the goalless draw, an incident involving Galatasaray's Mauro Icardi and Fenerbahçe's Djiku became a subject of debate.

ICARDI CALLED FOR A PENALTY

Mauro Icardi, who was in a duel with Djiku in the penalty area, fell to the ground while off the ball. Although the Argentine striker appealed for a penalty, referee Arda Kardeşler, who consulted with VAR, allowed play to continue.

PENALTY REACTION FROM OKAN BURUK: HE CRITICIZED THE BROADCASTER

Galatasaray Manager Okan Buruk stated in his post-match comments that the incident was a penalty and criticized the broadcaster for failing to provide sufficient camera angles.

Buruk said the following;

“I won't say it was a very clear penalty in the first half, it was a penalty. There was a punch. Like something out of a boxing ring! A punch was thrown. We actually saw this from a distant angle. I will also criticize the broadcaster. Not being able to capture this image clearly, in a derby watched by the world. The broadcaster should also consider the low number of cameras. People couldn't see the incident clearly. Not showing this in such an important match... Not giving this penalty. The TFF will do what is necessary regarding the VAR referee. It is sad not to be able to see this, not to be able to give it. I don't want to blame the referee. We didn't put on a fully sufficient performance either. There was a clear penalty in the first half"

Former referees Deniz Çoban, Bülent Yıldırım, and Bahattin Duran evaluated the incident, which caused debate in the sports community over whether it was a penalty, on the Trio program broadcast on beINSports.

Here are the comments from the former referees...

DENİZ ÇOBAN: "IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PENALTY AND A YELLOW CARD"

"The match was filmed with 26 cameras, 10 cameras captured the incident. The match referee is following the ball. Djiku swings his right arm, but I don't think it hit Icardi's head. Not the right arm, but the left arm comes into contact with Icardi's face. If I could see the intensity, I might have said a red card, but I can't see it. It should have been a penalty and a yellow card. Icardi falls holding his face after receiving the blow. It is in a very dead spot for the referee. I cannot blame the referee. VAR checked the incident for 52 seconds. They must have looked at 10 cameras; they didn't call him over because they couldn't find an angle to convince the referee. There have been such incidents in Turkey, and they said it was more correct not to call the referee. VAR has the right to access these 26 cameras independently. They don't have to rely on the broadcaster's director. All the angles we watched reached VAR, and it is certain that they watched them too."

BÜLENT YILDIRIM: "IT SHOULD BE A PENALTY"

"This is an unfortunate incident. It's not about defending the referee. There is no intervention by Icardi on Djiku. I don't see an offensive foul. The right arm grazes Icardi's body, there is no contact. We see from behind the goal that Djiku makes contact with his opponent's face with his left arm. This is an uncontrolled movement, it should be a penalty. There is no evidence that VAR can provide reliably. It is an unfortunate incident."

BAHATTİN DURAN: "ACCORDING TO MY FEELINGS, THERE IS CONTACT"

"In my opinion, according to my feelings, there is contact. But I cannot make a decision based on my feelings. UEFA would say there is no clear evidence in these images. They would advise VAR not to intervene. I respect the decision to continue, but according to my feelings, there is contact."