Besiktas lament Turkish referee, VAR in scathing statement after Leandro Trossard slapped in face

Besiktas have hit back at a "disgraceful" refereeing performance after Leandro Trossard was slapped in the face with no punishment dished out.

Trossard, who was playing in only his second Super Lig performance since making the move to Türkiye from Arsenal, went down in an off the ball incident in Besiktas' match against Alanyaspor.

Replays showed that the 32-year-old was clearly slapped in the face by Fidan Aliti and Trossard going down forced a decision to be made.

But a combination of referee Adnan Deniz Kayatepe and VAR Bulent Birincioglu decided not to take action against Aliti, to the dismay and shock of Trossard.

Besiktas lost the match 1-0 and Trossard angrily said: "The decision should clearly have been changed; I think the opponent slapped me. Clear red card. The decision needed to be changed."

The club themselves released a scathing statement of the referee and VAR in defence of Trossard.

In a post on X, they said: "The management displayed by the referees in our match against Corendon Alanyaspor has taken its place in history as a document of shame for Turkish refereeing.

"Adnan Deniz Kayatepe, the prince of the Central Referee Committee president whose scandalous decisions in last year's Ziraat Turkish Cup semi-final still linger fresh in memories, has added yet another disgraceful performance to his record, as if to say, "Where did we leave off?"

"The opposing player slapped Trossard right in front of the world's eyes. Referee Adnan Deniz Kayatepe failed to see the incident. Bülent Birincioğlu in the VAR room, meanwhile, remained silent.

- Arsenal ready if Julián Álvarez transfer door opens - sources
- Julian Álvarez jeered by Altético Madrid fans during draw with Villareal
- Virgil van Dijk 'fully trusts' Liverpool in transfer market

"We do not want to see malicious referees like Adnan Deniz Kayatepe and Bülent Birincioğlu in our matches ever again.

"We seek neither advantages nor privileges. We only demand fair and equal officiating.

"We will continue our rightful struggle with determination until this unjust system changes."

Besiktas won their first game of the season against Eyupsor 1-0, with Trossard getting booked on his debut as Václav Cerný scored the winning goal.

They sit 11th in the table with three points.