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The recent problems around Turkish refereeing has finally claimed a victim

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has terminated the contract of Danish VAR referee Jakob Sundberg following the controversial penalty decision that led to Adana Demirspor abandoning their match against Galatasaray.

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The incident, which occurred during the 23rd week of the Trendyol Super Lig, has sparked major backlash and prompted swift action from Turkish football authorities.

VAR error leads to high-profile fallout

The Galatasaray-Adana Demirspor clash at RAMS Park took a dramatic turn when on-field referee Oguzan Cakir awarded a penalty after a collision between Semih and Dries Mertens.

The decision came after a VAR review led by Sundberg, who determined that Semih had interfered with Mertens’ attempt to play the ball.

However, the ruling was met with immediate protests from Adana Demirspor players and staff, who felt the penalty was unjust.

The situation escalated when Adana Demirspor, in protest of the call, walked off the pitch in the 30th minute, forcing the game to be abandoned.

TFF takes action against VAR

In response to the controversy, TFF chairman Ibrahim Hacıosmanoğlu and Refereeing Committee chairman Ferhat Gundogdu decided to suspend referee Cakir for several weeks.

However, the biggest consequence came for Jakob Sundberg, whose contract was terminated immediately due to his role in misguiding the on-field decision.

The incident has further fueled debates over VAR’s effectiveness in Turkish football, with calls for greater accountability and improvements in referee training.

Meanwhile, Adana Demirspor’s withdrawal from the match remains a topic of discussion, with the TFF expected to make a ruling on the official result of the game in the coming days.