Female referee tackled in Turkey

Esra Arikboga was tackled after a collision between two players, receiving no concern or apology in a Turkish second-tier league match.

A female assistant referee, Esra Arikboga, was tackled during a Turkish second-tier league match on 4/4, but players on the field showed a striking lack of concern or apology for her well-being. The incident occurred in stoppage time of the Bursaspor versus Mardin 1969 Spor match at Matli Stadium. Bursaspor's Yusuf Erdogan received the ball near the right touchline when Mardin's Mehmet Manis lunged for an aggressive tackle. Erdogan avoided the challenge, but Manis's leg struck Arikboga, causing her to fall heavily to the ground.

Arikboga (center) falls after a challenge between two players. *Screenshot*

While Arikboga remained on the ground, neither Manis nor Erdogan offered assistance. Manis quickly returned to play, and Erdogan approached the main referee to protest. The main referee was compelled to stop the match, assist Arikboga, and seek an explanation from one of the involved players.

A video of the incident rapidly went viral across social media platforms, sparking widespread condemnation from fans. Many criticized the players' irresponsible and disrespectful behavior. One widely shared comment read, "He didn't even apologize. I call on the Turkish Football Federation: ban these individuals from playing in all leagues". On X, other users echoed this sentiment, with comments such as, "At least he should apologize or help her", and "Why didn't anyone help the referee up? It's too shameful. This was an accident during play, but at least offer a hand to help her".

The incident that caused female assistant referee Esra Arikboga to fall.

The match, part of round 31 of the Red Group in the Nesine 2. Lig – the third tier of the Turkish football league system – saw Bursaspor defeat Mardin 1969 Spor 2-0, with goals from Ertugrul Idris Furat in the 53rd minute and Baran Basyigit in the 89th minute. The controversial late-game incident drew national attention to players' attitudes during incidents involving officiating staff.

Despite the strong impact, Arikboga, a native of Istanbul, did not sustain serious injuries and resumed her duties after a few minutes. Following the match, the assistant referee opted for silence on social media, reportedly attempting to de-escalate public opinion and downplay the incident's significance.