Okan Buruk Criticizes Referee Siebert After Galatasaray’s Loss

Okan Buruk’s Outburst Against Referee Stems from the Fernando Muslera Incident! He Had Reacted Strongly to Daniel Siebert During the 2022 World Cup…

After Galatasaray’s 3-2 defeat to Young Boys in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League playoff round, head coach Okan Buruk criticized the referee, Daniel Siebert. The reason behind Buruk’s remarks has now been revealed.

In the UEFA Champions League playoff first leg, Galatasaray visited Swiss side Young Boys. Despite coming back from a 2-0 deficit to level the score at 2-2, the yellow-reds ultimately suffered a 3-2 defeat, leaving their hopes of progressing to the group stage for the return leg in Istanbul.

Galatasaray’s head coach Okan Buruk made harsh criticisms of the match referee, Daniel Siebert, after the game.

“APPOINT AN AZERI REFEREE FOR THE SECOND LEG”

The experienced coach stated, “I was in the stands due to my suspension, and watching the game from there, I was disturbed by the way the referee managed the match. He kept stopping the game and showed unnecessary yellow cards. It took him one minute just to write down one card. At this level, you expect and imagine much more. We were in the German-speaking canton of Switzerland, and a German referee is assigned. A referee who previously had an issue with one of our players during the World Cup is assigned. I’m not suspecting foul play, but when it comes to referee appointments… Do they appoint an Azeri referee to a Turkish match? The referee must have driven here. A German referee is assigned to a match involving a brotherly nation. Hopefully, for the second leg, they’ll appoint an Azeri referee to make things even.”

THE REASON BEHIND HIS WORDS HAS BEEN REVEALED

The truth behind Buruk’s words, “A referee who previously had an issue with one of our players during the World Cup is assigned,” has now come to light.

Galatasaray’s goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was sanctioned by FIFA for physically confronting the German referee during the 2022 World Cup.

WHAT HAPPENED?

A historic incident took place in the final group stage matches of the 2022 World Cup’s Group H. South Korea and Uruguay shared the same points and goal difference, but South Korea advanced to the Round of 16.

In the dying moments of the match, Uruguay’s side appealed for a penalty for an incident inside the Ghanaian penalty area. However, the match referee, Daniel Siebert, allowed play to continue. The Uruguayan players were furious with the German referee, believing he had made several controversial decisions during the match. After the final whistle, with Luis Suarez in tears on the bench, Fernando Muslera, along with Edinson Cavani, Diego Godin, and Jose Gimenez, confronted the referee as he headed towards the tunnel. Muslera physically intervened with the referee as he made his way to the dressing room.

After the match, FIFA launched an investigation into the conduct of Uruguayan players Muslera, Gimenez, Cavani, and Godin towards referee Siebert. As a result, Muslera and Gimenez were handed four-match suspensions, while Cavani and Godin received one-match bans.