Idman.biz
Referee Halil Umut Meler responded to the criticisms directed at him after the "Gaziantep" - "Beşiktaş" match in the Turkish Super League.
İdman.Biz reports with reference to the "Sözcü" publication that Halil Umut Meler assessed the reactions from the "Beşiktaş" community as momentary emotional approaches. The experienced referee noted that the rules are often interpreted from different prisms.
"Everyone interprets the rules according to themselves. Everyone considers themselves right. I have been a referee for 22 years, we undergo continuous training, I am in the elite category. But in the end, we are human. A doctor makes a mistake, loses his patient, a pilot's mistake causes a plane crash. There is no perfect person. Last year, foreign VAR referees came, what changed? They say, "How can't they see with 14 cameras?" We see, but it is not possible to intervene in everything in VAR. UEFA has determined the rules and we can only intervene in permitted episodes," the referee emphasized.
Halil Umut Meler stated that his activity as a VAR referee in the "Gaziantep FK" - "Beşiktaş" match was met with a strong reaction from "Beşiktaş" fans and the club management, but this did not affect his work:
Comparing the attitude towards referees in world football with Turkey, Meler also touched upon cultural differences and technological innovations. He especially emphasized the contributions of artificial intelligence and transparency to football:
"Referees are not so much on the agenda in Western countries. We are not yet at that cultural level. I have also managed games in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Argentina, they are closer to us. There, referees are sometimes judged unilaterally. There are developments in science and contributions of artificial intelligence to football. As far as I know, Super League clubs can also join the federation's system, and match episodes - mistakes, red cards, correct decisions - are explained in detail with a green stripe. This is truly a very valuable innovation."
