In a fiercely contested Turkish Super Lig derby on Saturday, Galatasaray secured a 1-0 victory over rivals Beşiktaş at the Tüpras Stadium, a result that has ignited significant controversy. The decisive goal came from Nigerian talisman Victor Osimhen, whose clinical header sealed the win for Galatasaray.

Following the heated clash, Beşiktaş head coach Sergen Yalçın expressed his profound frustration, leveling accusations of biased refereeing and suggesting that the outcome was influenced by external factors. Yalçın specifically targeted Victor Osimhen, claiming the Super Eagles star should have been sent off during the match.

Despite Osimhen finishing the game with only a single yellow card, Yalçın insisted that the forward committed a second bookable offense which was deliberately overlooked by the match officials. The Beşiktaş manager went as far as accusing the officials of engaging in “playing politics” to favor the league leaders, Galatasaray.

“This level of politics is almost laughable. The Beşiktaş community is watching; it shouldn't be like this,” Yalçın stated, highlighting his belief in a clear bias. He further elaborated on the perceived injustice, saying, “The referee was constantly waving his hands, claiming nothing was wrong. He was literally turning his head away to avoid seeing Osimhen’s second yellow. These occurrences don't seem normal to me anymore.”

Adding to Beşiktaş's woes, they were unable to capitalize on a significant advantage in the second half when Leroy Sané was dismissed for a second bookable offense, leaving Galatasaray with ten men. The defeat leaves Beşiktaş with 46 points after 25 games, severely jeopardizing their hopes of securing European qualification.

Such outbursts are not uncommon in the high-stakes environment of an Istanbul derby, where controversy frequently accompanies the spectacle. Regardless of the protests and accusations, the result stands. Victor Osimhen and his Galatasaray teammates will now shift their focus from their domestic celebrations to their upcoming UEFA Champions League encounter against Liverpool in midweek.