Beşiktaş President Renews Call for Foreign VAR Officials Amidst Refereeing Controversy

Beşiktaş President Serdal Adalı has reiterated his club's demand for foreign VAR (Video Assistant Referee) officials in Turkish football, citing a lack of response from the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) regarding their previous appeals. Adalı's comments came on March 11, 2026, ahead of the Ziraat Turkish Cup draw, following a contentious derby match against Galatasaray. Adalı revealed that Beşiktaş had not received any reply to their formal application to the TFF after the Galatasaray game.

He also noted that he had heard Galatasaray had made a similar request for international VAR assistance. This ongoing situation highlights persistent criticism within Turkish football concerning refereeing decisions and the management of the Central Referee Committee (MHK). The Beşiktaş president further stated that the TFF had failed to provide requested corridor camera footage, another unanswered demand from the club.

Adalı was highly critical of the current MHK chairman, asserting that he is unsuccessful and detrimental to both the federation and Turkish football as a whole. He suggested that the TFF President should conduct a confidential vote among club presidents to gauge their collective opinion on the MHK's performance. These remarks intensify the debate surrounding referee management and transparency within Turkish football.