Explosive tape claim from Ahmet Çakar: 'Matches were manipulated'

Famous sports commentators Ahmet Çakar and Erman Toroğlu discussed referees and allegations of manipulation in Turkish football on the program Az Önce Konuştum, hosted by Candaş Tolga Işık on Ekol TV. The program became a major talking point, particularly due to the remarkable claims put forward by Çakar.

'THEY WERE UNDER MAFIA INFLUENCE UNTIL 5 YEARS AGO'

Ahmet Çakar made harsh criticisms regarding Turkish referees during the program. Çakar said, "Until five years ago, a few famous referees were in the pockets of club mafias. They were forced to manipulate matches due to blackmail."

Arguing that referees could not act independently due to these pressures, Çakar claimed that Turkish football has never been clean.

'I WOULD SIGN MY NAME TO THAT'

Supporting Erman Toroğlu's statements that "VAR referees are appointed through nepotism. The VAR referee in the last Fenerbahçe match had bad intentions," Çakar said, "I would sign my name to that. If Erman and I were the heads of the Central Referee Committee, Yaşar Kemal Uğurlu wouldn't be able to officiate a match in the amateur leagues, let alone on the beach," he said, directing harsh criticism toward the referees.

Responding to Candaş Tolga Işık's question on the program, "Is there really a 'structure' in football?", Çakar pointed to the federation presidents.

Çakar stated, "The main point of the structure is the federation presidents. Power balances have always been decisive in Turkish football. Last year, Galatasaray's influence was very strong; one must admit this. In the days of the late Süleyman Seba and Turgay Atasü, Beşiktaş's influence was strong. However, Galatasaray has been the one to benefit most from the structure."