Former referees have given a clear assessment of the penalty incident Fenerbahçe SK waited for in their away match against Samsunspor. According to a report by Hürriyet Spor, Bülent Yıldırım, Aleks Taşçıoğlu and Deniz Çoban all described the key moment as an indisputable penalty.
Fenerbahçe won that Süper Lig match 2-0 in the 2023-2024 season. That victory was the team's first against Samsunspor in two seasons. Samsunspor had returned to the top flight that year after an 11-year absence. The referee for the match was Yasin Kol. The Yellow-Navy Blues had won two and drawn four of their first four league matches that season, remaining unbeaten. Their unbeaten run across all competitions stretched to nine games at that time.
Why was the incident a clear penalty?
The former referees broke down the details of the incident. Bülent Yıldırım stated that the defender made an uncontrolled movement. Yıldırım said, "Burada çok net şekilde defans oyuncusu kayarak risk alıyor. Tabanıyla geliyor. Vedat'a da teması gerçekleşiyor. Sonuçları düşünmeden yapılan kontrolsüz bir hareket." In his view, the defender leaving his base and making contact while Vedat had control of the ball made the decision inevitable.
Aleks Taşçıoğlu agreed with this assessment. Taşçıoğlu remarked, "Kesinlikle sonuçları düşünülmeden yapılan bir hareket. Top Vedat'ın kontrolünde." Both officials were also in agreement that a yellow card was warranted.
What did the other former referee say?
Deniz Çoban focused on the defender's body language in his comments. Çoban said the player's raised leg clearly showed an uncontrolled movement. He believed the penalty decision was the most correct call possible. The unanimous and clear opinion of all three former referees strengthens the technical analysis of the event. Such commentary provides important data for understanding how refereeing decisions are perceived in the football community.
What is Fenerbahçe SK's current situation?
The team's present status is quite different from the 2023-2024 season. As of 31 August 2026, Fenerbahçe SK sits 3rd in the Süper Lig table. The Yellow-Navy Blues have 6 points from 3 matches, with a record of 2 wins and 1 loss. Their recent form over the last three games is 'Win, Win, Loss'. They trail leaders Galatasaray by just 1 point. The team has scored 7 goals and conceded 4 so far this season, for a +3 goal difference. Up next is an away fixture against 7th-placed Başakşehir on 6 December 2026. You can check the schedule ahead of this important match on our fixtures page.
How are injuries affecting the squad?
The technical staff is missing several key players when shaping the matchday squad. The injuries list includes Jayden Oosterwolde, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Marco Asensio, Talisca and Çağlar Söyüncü. The absence of these players limits options in both defence and attack. The depth of the current squad will play a key role in managing this challenging period. The team must make the best use of available resources to maintain its challenge near the top of the league standings.
The former referees' clear comments shed light on a controversial moment from a past match, while Fenerbahçe is now focused on upcoming games. The away trip to Başakşehir will be a critical test in the tight race at the top of the table. Despite the absent injured players, the team will take to the pitch aiming to close the one-point gap in the title race.
