Soccer: Match to be replayed after referee's error

ISTANBUL - A Turkish league soccer match that ended in a 1-1 draw between Besiktas and Genclerbirligi will be replayed next month after referee Kuddusi Muftuoglu admitted making a mistake at a free kick that led to a goal.

Muftuoglu, 34 and on Fifa's select international list, confirmed in his match report that he blew the whistle three times at the 58th-minute free kick, which Genclerbirligi's Ali Tandogan converted to equalise for the away team.

The official match observer also reported hearing three whistles and the Turkish FA has now ordered the game to be replayed.

Muftuoglu, one of Turkey's seven Fifa referees, said he first blew his whistle as the signal for the kick to be taken, then again when Besiktas' Tayfur Havutcu broke from the wall and a third time to allow the goal to stand.

After blowing the whistle the second time, the kick should have been retaken.

Both Fifa and Uefa today said the decision to replay the match was a matter for the Turkish authorities, although in the past Fifa has been critical on rare occasions when games have been replayed due to refeering mistakes.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter last weekend said mistakes were part of the sport and that he was firmly against the introduction of video replay evidence which would undermine the authority of referees.

The match took place last weekend and will now be replayed on March 9.

Besiktas had taken the lead through Tumer Metin eight minutes before halftime and Genclerbirligi's controversial equaliser came 13 minutes into the second half.

Genclerbirligi, who are 13th in the 18-team Turkish league, lost 1-2 to Ankaraspor yesterday.

The club blamed the defeat on the upheaval caused by last week's controversy.

"In the wake of the Besiktas game there was low morale in the team. That was reflected in the psychology of the players, " Genclerbirligi spokesman Muammer Akyuz said in a statement on the club's website.

- REUTERS