Turkish Referee Sparks Major Controversy: Offside Call from a Throw-In – An Indefensible IFAB Error

On Thursday night at Matli Stadium, a rare error in modern football history occurred. Referee Ayberk Demirbas called offside immediately after a throw-in – a situation where, according to IFAB Laws of the Game, offside is impossible. Players from both Bursaspor and Istanbulspor were stunned, approaching the official in fierce protest over this illogical decision. This was not a difficult judgment call, but a fundamental error of law, one that even amateur referees rarely make. The match context: Bursaspor, a traditional club with promotion ambitions, hosted Istanbulspor – a team sinking deep into the relegation zone. With 40,105 spectators in attendance, the atmosphere at Matli was electric. Bursaspor were on an impressive run with 4 wins in their last 5 matches, while Istanbulspor had only 2 points after several rounds. The gap in quality and form suggested a home victory, but no one expected the match's focal point to come from a refereeing error. Referee Demirbas's error was not merely a controversial decision. According to IFAB Laws of the Game, a throw-in is a restart, and therefore offside does not apply. A player receiving the ball directly from a throw-in is always onside, regardless of their position. Calling offside in this situation is like a basketball referee calling a traveling violation while a player is dribbling – a severe misunderstanding of the rules. The players' reaction was understandable. They surrounded the referee, explaining that the decision was wrong. Referee Demirbas, realizing his mistake, corrected it by restarting play with a dropped ball. However, this correction could not erase the confusion and disruption to the match's rhythm. A dropped ball cannot replicate the tactical context of the previous situation, rendering a part of the match meaningless. This error immediately went viral on social media. The video clip of the controversial incident was widely shared, attracting attention from fans and experts alike. Former referee Deniz Ates Bitnel strongly criticized the decision on his personal Instagram account, calling it unacceptable and raising questions about the quality of referee training in Turkey. Criticism from a former professional referee added significant weight to the matter. In this context, Bursaspor's 4-0 victory became a side note. Kelechi Iheanacho, former Manchester City striker, had a brilliant day, contributing significantly to the emphatic win. Bursaspor extended their 11-month home unbeaten streak, solidifying their position in the promotion race. They are closely trailing league leaders Batman Petrolspor and proving themselves genuine contenders for a spot in the upper division. However, what is striking is that such a refereeing error could occur in a match witnessed by over 40,000 spectators and covered by international media like Goal.com. It shows that even in the VAR era, fundamental errors of law can still happen. The question arises: will referee Demirbas face disciplinary action? Will the Turkish Football Federation review their referee training procedures? My 2026 mistake in analyzing the Vietnam – Iraq match taught me a lesson: never make judgments based on theory alone. But in this case, even a cursory glance at IFAB Laws is enough to confirm that referee Demirbas was completely wrong. This is not a matter of perspective or speed, but a fundamental lack of understanding of the rules. It's like a surgeon forgetting that the heart is on the left side of the chest. This error not only affected the match but also eroded fan trust in officiating. Interestingly, the fierce backlash from the online community and experts may pressure the Turkish Football Federation to implement reforms. Will they intensify law training for referees? Will they consider introducing VAR in the second division? These questions will be raised in the coming weeks. But one thing is certain: referee Demirbas's mistake will become a classic case study in referee training courses, an example of how a lack of law understanding can have severe consequences. Looking at the bigger picture, this match exposed a larger issue: the quality of refereeing in lower-tier leagues. While top leagues are protected by VAR and professionally trained referees, lower divisions still rely on referees with inconsistent standards. This creates a significant injustice for teams and players in these leagues, who deserve fair and accurate decisions just as much as those in top divisions. Each match is a miniature model of an entire system. Referee Demirbas's error is not just a personal mistake, but a symptom of a refereeing training and supervision system with many gaps. The question is not whether this was a mistake – it clearly was – but what will be done to prevent such errors from happening again.