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Turkish club Beşiktaş cry foul over disciplinary bias following Fenerbahçe clash
09th September, 2026 11:52 AM
Turkish Süper Lig outfit Beşiktaş has issued an explosive statement accusing the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) of bias and outright hostility towards its players following the clashes witnessed during Saturday’s intercontinental derby against Fenerbahçe on September 5, 2026.
Central to the scandal is the controversial decision by the federation’s Legal Advisory to refer striker Dušan Vlahović to the Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDB) under Article 41 of the Football Disciplinary Regulations.
The charge stems from a heated pitch altercation between former Serie A rivals Milan Škriniar and Dušan Vlahović.
Mere bookings
The incident has put the two Istanbul clubs at loggerheads. Fatih Şaşıoğlu, a congress member for Fenerbahçe Sports Club, insisted that the former Juventus striker is liable for a penalty under the “Insult” act specified in Article 41 of the Football Disciplinary Regulations.
On the pitch, match referee Halil Umut Meler merely issued yellow cards to the feuding pair and Fenerbahçe goalkeeper Ederson for their roles in the melee. However, Beşiktaş subsequently issued a formal statement decrying unfair treatment and a double standard, pointing out that the Fenerbahçe players involved in provoking the altercation escaped official scrutiny entirely.
The Black Eagles expressed profound outrage that Vlahović alone faced disciplinary proceedings while the opposing player, who relentlessly provoked him with deliberate actions and words throughout the physical encounter, was spared.
The club branded the unilateral referral a concrete indicator of how far the sport’s governing body has strayed from the fundamental principles of justice, equality, and neutrality. Furthermore, they argued that the federation’s boards have once again laid bare an entrenched, hostile agenda specifically targeting their players.
Demanding immediate answers from the Turkish Football Federation regarding the integrity of the evidence used to justify the ruling, Beşiktaş accused the official league broadcaster of manipulating the narrative.
The club claimed the network provided only selective, close-up shots of Vlahović’s reaction while deliberately excluding the prior provocation from the opposing player.
When rivalry turns contentious
This controversy reflects a growing trend among major European football federations and league organisers, where club rivalries have taken a contentious turn off the pitch.
Only last season, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez waged a high-profile public campaign alleging that his club faces systemic unfair treatment and refereeing bias in La Liga.
Pérez publicly declared that refereeing errors cost Real Madrid 18 points during the 2025/26 campaign, claiming his presidency should reflect 14 league titles instead of the seven won.
The accusations caused a major stir across Spain, with La Liga leadership and rival executives strongly condemning the media strategy and accusing Real Madrid of attempting to intimidate referees and undermine the competitive integrity of the sport.
