Atilla Karaoğlan

Atilla Karaoğlan, born on June 22, 1986 in Sakarya, Turkey, is a Turkish football referee who has had a distinguished career in national and international refereeing. In addition to his work as a referee, he is a teacher by profession and has training in football coaching. His father was a footballer, which influenced his connection to sports from an early age.

He began his career as a referee in 2007, starting in the amateur leagues of Turkey. After several years of dedication, he moved up to the TFF 1. Lig in the 2018/2019 season, the second division of Turkish football. His performance allowed him to debut in the Süper Lig in the 2019/2020 season, establishing himself as one of the main referees in the country.

In 2023, Karaoğlan was included in the FIFA referees list, enabling him to officiate international matches. That same year, he made his international competition debut by refereeing a UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifying match between Germany and Italy. Subsequently, he was selected by UEFA to participate in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship, where he officiated four matches, including the final between Germany and France. Additionally, he took part in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia, refereeing three matches, including a round of 16 match.

Throughout his career, Karaoğlan has been involved in various incidents. In 2018, during a TFF 1. Lig match between Balıkesirspor and Ümraniyespor, he was assaulted by a fan, leading to the suspension of the match. In December 2022, after a match between Gaziantep FK and Beşiktaş, the Central Referees Committee of Turkey announced that Karaoğlan would not be appointed to officiate matches for an extended period due to controversial decisions made during the match.