Photo Credit: Getty Images / DeFodi Images via Ryan Crockett (as used by Liverpool.com). Original match photos from UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg – Liverpool vs Galatasaray at Anfield, Liverpool, UK.
UCL: Galatasaray Coach Blasts Referee After Heavy Champions League Defeat To Liverpool

Galatasaray manager, Okan Buruk, has slammed the officiating following his side’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League.

The Turkish champions were knocked out after suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie. The result saw Liverpool advance 4-1 on aggregate, having lost the first leg 1-0 in Istanbul.

Speaking after the match, Buruk blamed the change of referee for his team’s poor showing. World Cup final official Szymon Marciniak was originally billed to take charge of the game but sustained an injury during warm-up and was replaced by fellow Polish referee, Pawel Raczkowski.

Buruk, who also pointed to Victor Osimhen’s injury at half-time as a psychological turning point, did not hold back in his assessment of the stand-in official.

“We were expecting one of the best referees in the world but his replacement was one of the worst referees we have encountered,” Buruk said.

The Galatasaray boss added that Liverpool deserved the victory, admitting his side “played very bad” especially in the second half after goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir had saved a penalty in the first half.

Galatasaray also suffered late injury worries with Victor Osimhen complaining of arm pain and substitute Noa Lang injuring his finger after it was trapped between advertising hoardings.
Source: Punch Newspapers –