Was the penalty awarded to Fenerbahçe against Pendikspor correct? Former referees weigh in: A scandal from start to finish

In the 29th week of the Süper Lig, Fenerbahçe hosted Pendikspor on their home turf.

The Yellow-Canaries, who finished the first half of the match trailing 1-0, left the field with a 4-1 victory thanks to goals from Mert Hakan Yandaş, Batshuayi, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, and İrfan Can Kahveci.

In a match where referee decisions and red cards were the subject of much discussion, the penalty awarded to Fenerbahçe in the 87th minute sparked controversy.

The penalty decision was evaluated on the Trio program, which airs on the rights-holding broadcaster's screens.

Here are the comments from the Trio team regarding the penalty position:

"'VAR' INTERVENTION IS WRONG"

Deniz Çoban: This position could be millimeters on the penalty area line, or it could be outside. That is not the point. For VAR to intervene in a position, there must be clear, definite, indisputable, and obvious evidence. I examined this position for 15 minutes. One moment I look and think it's inside, the next I think it's outside. I cannot be sure. VAR cannot make a decision based on a feeling without being certain. The VAR intervention is wrong.

The referee gave it outside; it should have continued with a free kick. If it is inside, there is no need for him to watch it. The decision of whether it is inside or outside is a geographical decision. Just like in offside. They tell him in his ear, and a penalty is given. There is no error there. Let alone whether the penalty is inside, I have doubts about whether the position is a foul at all. Ndiaye hits the ball. I would debate the foul. If the referee gave it, I accept it.

I watched so many angles, and I could not decide whether it was inside or outside. I cannot understand what concrete evidence VAR used to intervene. It will not be heard in the VAR recordings on Tuesday either. The VAR intervention is wrong. There is no concrete evidence. I am not sure about the foul either, but if the referee gave it, I accept it.

"A BIG SCANDAL FROM START TO FINISH"

Bülent Yıldırım: The referee's positioning is wrong. A top-level referee would not stand here. A referee positions himself to see the event. Okay, there is contact here. The referee thought it was a foul, fine. According to the VAR protocol, you only change a decision on your own in positions involving whether it is inside or outside if there is indisputable evidence. Here, in this position, I am trying to figure out if it is inside or outside.

Because he was looking at İrfan's right foot, he could not resolve the moment of contact. He changed the referee's decision in a gray area. Here, İrfan cannot play the ball; while İrfan is adjusting it, Badou hits the ball with the tip of his foot. His studs are not pointing at the opponent. The ball is in the space. After the attempt to hit the ball, Badou does not hit İrfan Can; İrfan Can's cleat hits Badou. It is a scandal from start to finish.

"VAR INTERVENTION IS NOT CORRECT"

Bahattin Duran: I respect the referee's decision. The VAR intervention is wrong. İrfan Can is going to soften it with the top of his left foot. Let's say he made slight contact. Badou then hits the ball, and the ball goes 10-12 meters forward. It is not enough for Badou to hit the ball; he should not hit İrfan after hitting the ball.

I cannot say whether the intervention here is inside or outside. I cannot say either. Because it is like this, if I were in the VAR room, I would not have intervened. I would have respected the referee's decision and let the kick be taken. With these images, the VAR intervention is not correct.