Scandalous Claim from Former Galatasaray Player Ryan Babel: “Referees Helped Us Win”
Ryan Babel’s Controversial Remarks About Turkish Football: "Referees Helped Us at Galatasaray"
Former Dutch international and ex-Süper Lig player Ryan Babel, who played for four different teams in Turkey, made striking comments about his time in the league during a program he attended with former Trabzonspor midfielder Obi Mikel.
Babel stated, “You really have to be better to win. Because otherwise, you never know what these referees will do…” At that moment, Obi Mikel laughed and added, “He’s the one saying it, not me. I didn’t say anything.”
“The Referee Helped Us”
Continuing his remarks, Babel admitted: “Listen, it is what it is. I was there. I played in Turkey for 10 years. I played for four different teams—two small clubs and two big ones. I have to confess, when I played for Galatasaray, we won some matches where I knew we were ‘very lucky (!)’ that day. We were lucky because the referee helped us.”
Obi Mikel: “You Feel It When You Listen to Jose”
Former Chelsea and Trabzonspor player Obi Mikel supported Babel’s comments by saying, “When you listen to Jose Mourinho, you feel it. I’m not repeating his words, but I think he believes there is something strange going on in that league. I definitely think something weird is happening there.”
Babel’s Performance in Turkey
- Kasımpaşa: 59 matches – 14 goals, 12 assists
- Beşiktaş: 89 matches – 29 goals, 12 assists
- Galatasaray: 100 matches – 17 goals, 8 assists
- Eyüpspor: 29 matches – 5 goals, 1 assist
