Mourinho’s plans foiled as Turkish Super Lig reach major decision

The first three weeks of the 2025-26 Turkish Super Lig have been dominated by controversy, and José Mourinho’s Fenerbahce will be unhappy about recent developments concerning refereeing.

What started as frustration over VAR decisions has now snowballed into a major refereeing policy that could reshape the league.

Fenerbahce, alongside other clubs, publicly demanded that the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) reintroduce foreign referees in the VAR booth after a string of contentious calls.

Mourinho was particularly vocal as his team felt the sting of questionable officiating in crucial fixtures, especially against rivals Galatasaray.

The argument was simple: international referees bring neutrality, global experience, and less susceptibility to local pressures.

Last season, the TFF experimented with foreign VAR officials in high-stakes games. At first, the move was welcomed. But soon, communication gaps and cultural misunderstandings began to frustrate clubs.

Still, many believed it was worth revisiting, especially after the shaky start to the season reignited anger around VAR.

The TFF has now made its stance clear: only Turkish referees will handle VAR duties for the rest of the campaign.

The decision followed consultations with the Central Referee Board (MHK) and reflects a long-term strategy to strengthen domestic officiating.

According to officials, mistakes are part of football everywhere, but investing in local referees is vital for the future.

The Turkish football community is deeply divided. Supporters applaud the move as a patriotic step toward independence, while critics argue that international referees still offer greater objectivity under pressure.