(foto: Uradni FB/TW/IG profil igralca)
Turkish referee Elif Karaarslan, suspended after a scandal involving a leaked video, used social media to criticize colleagues who remain silent against injustice, urging them to be courageous.
Recently, Turkish football was shaken by a scandal involving 24-year-old referee Elif Karaaslan and 61-year-old delegate Orhan Erdemir. The controversial 18+ video featuring Karaaslan and Erdemir quickly circulated on social media platforms and WhatsApp, leading to their suspensions.
Following the scandal, Karaaslan was suspended, yet she gained thousands of social media followers, now amassing over 580,000 on Instagram. She used her platform to publicly address her former colleagues and the lack of support she received.
“When a referee is treated unfairly, why don’t other referees raise their voices? Are you afraid of getting into trouble? What are you afraid of?” Karaaslan questioned in an Instagram post.
“Those who stay silent in the face of injustice today will find themselves having to defend against similar injustices tomorrow,” she added.
“Fear means nothing after death. Be brave. As long as you continue to act this way, anyone can play with the careers of referees as they please,” she concluded.
Elif, a former Beşiktaş player who ended her playing career due to a severe injury, began her journey as a referee. However, her officiating career is now uncertain due to her suspension.
After the incident, the Arbitration Board of the Turkish Football Federation confirmed that both Karaaslan’s and Erdemir’s appeals were denied. Karaaslan received a 90-day suspension from football-related activities, while Erdemir was suspended for 45 days.