Prominent Turkish Refereeing Official Calls for Ban of Arda Kardeşler Following Controversial Match
ISTANBUL, September 20, 2025 – Veteran Turkish football commentator Ertuğrul Doğan issued a scathing condemnation of referee Arda Kardeşler following a contentious match today, declaring, “This friend’s arbitration is over!” Doğan’s statement comes amid widespread outrage over a disputed call during a game between Trabzonspor and an unnamed opponent.
doğan, speaking after the match, asserted that Kardeşler’s actions demonstrate a basic incompatibility with Turkish football. “After this time I do not see the possibility of refereeing. This friend’s arbitration is over!” he stated. He further questioned the referee’s integrity, asking, “When you go home, will you not be ashamed of the child? Arda Kardeşler’in football work. In recent years, such an immoral stance has not been seen.” Doğan expressed confidence that the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) would take decisive action.
The controversy centers around a 65th-minute free kick awarded to Trabzonspor. After the team quickly took the free kick and entered a goal-scoring position, Kardeşler halted play, citing “displacement” and ordering a re-take. Trabzonspor, currently trailing 0-1, promptly released a statement via social media demanding the TFF ban Kardeşler from future involvement in Turkish football, labeling his actions as demonstrating “malicious intention and moral attitude in its most naked form.”
The club’s statement continued, “For justice, for the right, for the poured forehead sweat; It is indeed inevitable that the turkish Football Federation will take action immediately.”