Hot topics close

Galatasaray vs Fenerbahce Turkish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia ...

Galatasaray vs Fenerbahce Turkish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia
The Turkish Super Cup final between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce has been cancelled amid a reported row between the clubs and the hosts in Saudi Arabia. The two rivals were set to play each other in the annual meeting of the Turkish Super Lig champions and

The Turkish Super Cup final between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce has been cancelled amid a reported row between the clubs and the hosts in Saudi Arabia.

The two rivals were set to play each other in the annual meeting of the Turkish Super Lig champions and the Turkish Cup winners at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh on Friday evening.

However, media reports emerged alleging that Saudi authorities had stopped the Turkish national anthem from being played and had prohibited players from wearing T-shirts featuring images of the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, during their warm-up.

2023 is the 100th anniversary of Ataturk founding the Turkish Republic.

The Turkish Football Federation, who had been heavily criticised for moving the game to Saudi Arabia, moved to shut down speculation surrounding the game earlier in the day labelling it “disinformation”.

Kamuoyuna Duyuru pic.twitter.com/mvDErucoIS

— Galatasaray SK (@GalatasaraySK) December 29, 2023

However, with kick-off approaching and supporters already inside the stadium the decision was made for the match to not be played as originally planned.

A statement on behalf of both clubs as well as the federation said a “joint decision” had been made to “postpone to a later date”.

Match organisers Riyadh Season said in a press release: “We had been looking forward to holding the match on time and in accordance with the international rules and regulations, which require presenting the sport without any slogans outside its scope, especially since this was discussed with the Football Federation of Turkey.”

They said that they had agreed to play the Turkish national anthem and display the Turkish flag inside the stadium “due to the appreciation we hold for the Republic of Turkey.”

The statement added: “Despite this consensus it was unfortunate that the two teams did not adhere to what had been agreed upon, which led to the match not being held.”

It is not yet clear when or where the game will be replayed.

The cancellation comes against a backdrop of a difficult few weeks for Turkish football.

League games in the country were suspended earlier this month after a referee in a top-flight match was punched by a club president at the end of a game.

Faruk Koca, president of Super Lig side MKE Ankaragucu, ran on to the field and hit referee Halil Umut Meler after a draw against Caykur Rizespor.

Meler was left hospitalised after being knocked to the floor by Koca, whose team had conceded a 97th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw. Koca went on to resign from his position.

Upon the resumption of matches on December 19, the game between Istanbulspor and Trabzonspor was suspended and later abandoned after the hosts’ president took his team off the field in protest at a refereeing decision.

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

The day Turkish football descended into chaos - and why it was grimly inevitable

(Ali Atmaca/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Similar shots
News Archive
  • Implode
    Implode
    TikTok videos outline exactly what may have caused the submarine ...
    23 Jun 2023
    1
  • Liverpool fixtures
    Liverpool fixtures
    'Work so, so hard' Ibrahima Konate's message for success
    3 Feb 2025
    20
  • Tonto Dikeh
    Tonto Dikeh
    Rivers 2023: Why I accepted to run as Deputy Governor — Tonto Dikeh
    24 Jun 2022
    7
  • Renfield
    Renfield
    'Renfield' Ending, Explained: Is Count Dracula Dead Or Alive? What ...
    2 May 2023
    4
  • Gladiator
    Gladiator
    Lucilla Didn't Need To Be In Gladiator 2 Despite Her Connection To ...
    14 Dec 2024
    2
  • Ajax vs Rangers
    Ajax vs Rangers
    Ajax vs Rangers LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction as Ajax notch comfortable win
    7 Sep 2022
    9
This week's most popular shots