Fenerbahce Walks Off During Turkish Supercup Match Against Galatasaray in Protest

• Fenerbahce walks off the field in protest just three minutes into the Turkish Supercup match against Galatasaray
• Despite Galatasaray’s early lead, Fenerbahce exits the pitch as planned, fielding an Under-19 team for the match forfeit

Tensions flared during the rescheduled Turkish Supercup match between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray on Sunday when Fenerbahce, just three minutes into the game, decided to walk off the field in protest against perceived unfair treatment.

In a bold move, Fenerbahce opted to field an Under-19 team against their Istanbul rivals for the match.

Despite Galatasaray taking an early lead with a goal from Mauro Icardi, Fenerbahce exited the pitch, adhering to their reported pre-match plan to kick off and then forfeit the game.

Addressing the press before the match, Fenerbahce president Ali Koc emphasized the need for a reset in Turkish football. The press conference took place in Sanliurfa, more than 1,000 kilometers away from Istanbul, a city still recovering from the devastating 2023 earthquake which claimed over 53,500 lives.

Proceeds from the match were intended to support the earthquake victims, reflecting the gravity of the situation.

Fenerbahce, currently vying for their first Turkish title since 2014 and trailing two points behind reigning champions Galatasaray with seven rounds remaining, expressed frustration at what they perceive as unfair treatment.

The club had previously requested the postponement of the Supercup fixture ahead of their Europa League quarter-final clash against Olympiakos, scheduled for Thursday. Additionally, Fenerbahce had insisted on appointing a foreign referee, citing instances of biased officiating by Turkish referees.

However, both requests were rejected by the Turkish Football Federation. This decision came shortly after the federation imposed one-match suspensions on two Fenerbahce players following an outbreak of violence during a pitch invasion in Trabzon after a league match.

Originally slated for December 29 in Riyadh, the Supercup encounter faced a postponement when Saudi organizers refused to permit players to wear warm-up shirts featuring the image of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. The organizers cited a ban on political slogans, prompting the rescheduling of the match.