Turkish football club Galatasaray has initiated significant legal action against prominent former referee and sports pundit Ahmet Çakar following his “baseless” and “malicious” allegations concerning Nigerian star striker Victor Osimhen's health. Çakar made sensational claims on live television, suggesting Osimhen is battling a “serious health problem” that could potentially affect him for the rest of his life.

The controversy erupted during a broadcast of Beyaz TV's Derin Futbol programme, where Çakar asserted he had received information from the “Ministry of Health” regarding Osimhen’s alleged illness. While he initially stated he preferred not to discuss details “as a sportsman and father,” his remarks swiftly sparked outrage. In a social media post earlier, Çakar had written, “This is a very sad day for me. Unfortunately, I have received information that Osimhen has a very serious health problem. I hope this is not true.”

Çakar further complicated his narrative by claiming to have spoken with Galatasaray’s club doctor, Yener İnce. According to Çakar, Dr. İnce allegedly mentioned that “four to five black players in the Turkish Super League had a similar illness,” yet İnce also reportedly told Çakar that the information he received was “incorrect” regarding Osimhen's specific case. Despite this alleged denial from the club doctor, Çakar controversially persisted, claiming Osimhen’s illness would “likely affect him for the rest of his life” and that Galatasaray officials were aware of the situation.

Galatasaray responded with vehemence, publicly describing Çakar's remarks as “false, damaging, and malicious.” The club has lodged formal complaints with the Turkish courts, the Ministry of Health, and Turkey’s media regulator, RTÜK (Radio and Television Supreme Council). Club officials, as reported by Turkish journalist Süleyman Rodop, were “incensed” by the allegations, perceiving them as a direct assault on the integrity of Galatasaray’s medical department and the personal and professional reputation of Victor Osimhen. An insider stated, “These claims are not only baseless but deeply unethical. They harm the image of our player and our institution. Appropriate legal steps are being taken.”

Adding context to Çakar's contentious statements, it is noted that while he is a recognized football pundit and was once a FIFA-listed referee, he is also known for being a controversial figure with a history of making dubious claims, including alleging that Saddam Hussein was alive and that aliens were protecting Barack Obama. This history further casts doubt on the veracity of his latest assertions regarding Osimhen.

Despite the escalating legal dispute and the ongoing speculation in Istanbul, Victor Osimhen has remained steadfastly focused on his football commitments. The 26-year-old forward recently recovered from a minor chin injury and has been active, notably scoring in Galatasaray’s Champions League victory over Liverpool and featuring in a 1-1 derby draw with Besiktas. He is currently with the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, in South Africa, preparing for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic. While Osimhen has faced injury struggles throughout his career, there have been no credible suggestions or public indications from either the player or Galatasaray that he suffers from any serious or lifelong illness.