Halil Ibrahim Dincdag is Turkey's first openly gay referee
An Istanbul court has ordered the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) to pay compensation for sacking a referee on the grounds of his homosexuality.
The TFF was fined 23,000 lira ($7,900; £5,300) for dismissing Halil Ibrahim Dincdag back in 2009.
The federation claimed Mr Dincdag was "unfit" for military service and thus unable
to work as a referee.
Mr Dincdag said he would appeal against the amount, but called the ruling "a victory".
"Winning this lawsuit means a lot to me," he said. "I hope this ruling will be a model for similar cases."
His lawyer had asked for 110,000 Turkish lira when the case was filed in 2011.
Speaking to Reuters news agency at the time, the former referee said his right to work had been violated.
"I have been unable to find a job since my name hit the headlines," he said.
"I have received threats, and have lost hope of earning my own living."
Under Turkish regulation, referees must complete national military service to work - but Mr Dincdag was released from the army on the grounds of his homosexuality.
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