Turkish Football Federation expands Referee Abroad program and ousts Portuguese coaching directors

The Turkish Football Federation’s three‑year Referee Abroad programme, run by the Central Referee Committee, allowed every young Turkish official who met its criteria – under 27, passed an English oral assessment and held a valid green passport or Schengen visa – to officiate at European youth tournaments. In June‑July 2026, 33 Turkish referees and five observers worked at the Gothia Cup in Sweden, IberCup Barcelona in Spain, IberCup Estoril in Portugal and the Helsinki Cup in Finland, covering a total of 294 matches, including 70 key fixtures.

Ahead of the 2026‑27 season, the federation announced a sudden staff change, terminating the contracts of Portuguese Referee Development Director Vitor Melo and VAR Director Joao Capela. The move followed criticism that the Portuguese educators strayed from UEFA norms, applied uneven penalties and compromised independent decision‑making, prompting a public dispute within Turkish football circles.