A Turkish referee has taken the unprecedented step of apologising for his errors during a domestic match live on television.
Deniz Coban intervened while Kasimpasa manager Riza Calimbay was speaking with the Turkish Super League broadcaster Lig TV after his team’s 1-1 draw with Rizespor on Monday. The experienced official apologised for giving Rizespor a penalty in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time having watched the incident back and seen that the away team’s striker Leonard Kweuke had dived outside the area.
“I apologise to you [Calimbay], to the Kasimpasa team, to the Rizespor team and to the Turkish Football Federation as well as the refereeing committee and have to consider my future after this,” Coban said on Turkish TV.
In response, Calimbay said: “We all make mistakes but the fact that you had the courage to come here and admit this deserves a lot of respect. Do not talk about leaving the profession the game needs more people like you.”
The Turkish Football Federation has yet to comment on the matter.
