No Turkish Referees in the World Cup

The Turkish national football team's early exit from the 2026 World Cup has brought the international status of Turkish referees under scrutiny. Fatih Çekirge criticized the absence of Turkish referees in the tournament.

Why No Turkish Referees?

Fatih Çekirge recalled that FIFA assigned referees from many countries, including Gabon with a population of 2.5 million and El Salvador with a population of 6.5 million, but no Turkish referees were assigned.

Lack of Trust and Illegal Betting

Çekirge stated that this situation is not just an assignment issue, but also a matter of the international reputation of Turkish referees. The long-standing referee controversies, trust issues, and allegations of illegal betting in the Süper Lig have contributed to this negative perception.

DateMatchResult
2025-06-11Mexico - Türkiye1-0

Current Situation

Last result: Mexico 1-0 Türkiye (2025-06-11). Next fixture: vs France (at home, 2026-09-25).