'Give me a break,' says Beşiktaş coach Bilic, demanding fair treatment from referees

ISTANBUL

Slaven Bilic celebrates Beşiktaş's 89th-minute winner against Eskişehir in Istanbul on March 9. AA photo

Beşiktaş coach Slaven Bilic stormed out of a press conference following his team’s last-minute victory over Eskişehirspor in the Spor Toto Super League on March 9 in protest at recent refereeing decisions.

An 89th-minute goal from defender Ersan Gülüm gave Beşiktaş a hard-fought 1-0 win over Es-Es, meaning the Black Eagles continued their chase of rivals Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray.

“All I want is for my team to receive the same treatment and we are not getting it,” the Croatian coach said in the press conference before storming out of the room. “But anyway we’re going to fight until the end for the championship.”

Beşiktaş had a penalty appeal waved off by the referee during the game and it caused a rift between Bilic and former German referee and Lig TV pundit Markus Merk.

The German said the referee was right to not make the call and Bilic said, “But it was a penalty for Fenerbahçe last week … Come on man, give me a break,” before leaving the interview.

Fenerbahçe was awarded two controversial penalties in beating Gençlerbirliği 2-0 last week.