Galatasaray lodge complaint to UEFA over Eskås decisions in Lisbon

Galatasaray have lodged a formal complaint with UEFA after their 3–1 Champions League opening matchday defeat to Sporting CP at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon on Wednesday night, accusing Norwegian referee Espen Eskås of pivotal errors that they say altered the result.

The encounter marked the opening matchday of the Champions League group stage, with both clubs eager to secure early points. The match took place at the Estádio José Alvalade.

First half red card controversy

The first incident occurred in the 22nd minute when Sporting midfielder Sergi Altimira was shown only a yellow card after a reckless challenge on Aleksey Batrakov. Galatasaray argue the tackle amounted to serious foul play and should have resulted in a straight red card, constituting a Red Card Omission.

Club officials compiled an official file targeting Norwegian referee Espen Eskås, citing the omission as a critical error that directly altered the match trajectory. The hierarchy believes the two decisions were decisive in the 3–1 defeat.

Second half penalty and UEFA complaint

The second controversy unfolded in the 54th minute when referee Espen Eskås awarded Sporting a penalty that proved decisive. VAR official Dennis Higler chose not to intervene, a decision fiercely disputed by the visitors who felt the penalty should not have stood. VAR official Dennis Higler confirmed he chose not to intervene, backing the referee’s penalty award.

Speaking after the final whistle in Lisbon, Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk said: “We have a referee tonight who directly influenced the outcome of the match.” He added that “Decisions made at this Champions League level simply cannot happen—the red card was missed and the penalty awarded against us did not exist.”

Galatasaray officials are now requesting a formal review of both Eskås and the VAR team, urging UEFA to enforce consistent officiating standards across the competition. The club seeks a transparent investigation to prevent similar oversights.

If UEFA upholds the complaint, it could set a precedent for reviewing referee conduct in future Champions League fixtures. Galatasaray hopes the review will reinforce fairness and deter similar oversights in upcoming matches.