This is an action that risks making headlines in the midst of the match-fixing controversy in Türkiye. Friday evening, the end of the Turkish championship match between Trabzonspor and Kasimpasa (2-1) gave rise to a stunning scene with the exclusion of German international Kerem Demirbay (2 caps in 2017), warned of two yellow cards for the same action.
While the player, who notably played for Bayer Leverkusen (2019-2023), is about to take a set piece in the 90th minute to try to go for the equalizer, he gets annoyed that the referee is bothering him and takes time to move aside and makes gestures of humor, without malice or malice but surely accompanied by comments which obviously did not please the referee.
In the space of two seconds, the last drew his yellow card in front of Kerem Demirbay, who continued to speak, before lowering his arm then immediately raising it to punish the 32-year-old player with a second yellow card, synonymous with a red card and permanent exit.
Kerem Demirbay tells the referee to stand down, I will use it
The referee dismisses the game with a red card after 2 yellow cards.
This man played for Galatasaray for years. There is no possibility of even seeing such a card. May God damn you. Turkish arbitration is bankrupt!
pic.twitter.com/bLdnWB2zpm— Kenetlen Beşiktaşlı (@yoruyorbak) January 24, 2026
This decision by the referee infuriated the coach of the Istanbul team, Emre Belozoglu. “You can’t referee a match that badly. You can’t interpret the game that badly. This championship cannot continue like this with referees,” he was offended about the exclusion of his brand new player, who arrived in Kasimpasa ten days ago.
Without being able to make a connection, it comes especially at a time when a huge arbitration scandal has been shaking Turkish football for several months. The Turkish Football Federation revealed last October that more than a hundred referees, including some professionals, had bet on matches.
