In a statement published on the black-and-white club's website, President Çebi made the following remarks regarding the assignment of referee Halil Umut Meler to the match:
"Considering the form charts, there was a public expectation that Ali Şansalan would be appointed by artificial intelligence for the Galatasaray-Beşiktaş match. Galatasaray Sportif AŞ Deputy Chairman Erden Timur, having received information that Ali Şansalan would be appointed to the match, intentionally brought up Şansalan's name to ensure the appointment of Halil Umut Meler. There may be an ulterior motive in the appointment of Halil Umut Meler to this match. We hope that Halil Umut Meler will not be a tool for such a thing. There is a flow of information from the Federation to Galatasaray. It cannot be a coincidence that Erden Timur used Ali Şansalan's name when there was nothing on the table.
When Halil Umut Meler blows the final whistle of the match, we will understand whether there was an ulterior motive in this appointment. We hope that Meler has not been appointed to this match as part of another plan. We expect him to manage the derby fairly and show that he is not part of any plan."
News Source: 12punto
