Fenerbahce players made a bold statement during Sunday's Turkish Super Cup match against Galatasaray by walking off the pitch after just one minute, resulting in the game being abandoned and conceding the trophy to their opponents. The decision to withdraw from the match came as a surprise, especially considering Fenerbahce had fielded their Under-19 team for the game.
The match was originally scheduled to take place in Sanliurfa, approximately 1,000 km away from Istanbul. The abrupt exit from the game followed a goal by Galatasaray's Mauro Icardi, prompting Fenerbahce to take a stand.
Reports indicated that Fenerbahce had requested a postponement of the match due to their upcoming Europa Conference League quarterfinal first leg against Olympiakos Piraeus on Thursday. However, their request was denied, leading to the controversial decision to abandon the Super Cup match.
Fenerbahce's president, Yildirim Ali Koç, expressed his discontent with the state of Turkish football, calling for a 'reset' in the sport. He highlighted perceived injustices that the club has faced over the years, emphasizing the need for change.
Prior to the Super Cup incident, two Fenerbahce players had received one-match bans from the Turkish soccer federation following an altercation during a Superlig game against Trabzonspor. The match had ended with Trabzonspor fans storming the pitch, resulting in disciplinary actions against both clubs.
Despite the controversy surrounding the Super Cup match, Fenerbahce reaffirmed their commitment to their fans and national values on social media. The club, known for its massive fan base and rich history, vowed to continue standing tall in the face of challenges.
The Turkish Super Cup, originally slated to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December, was postponed due to a dispute over players wearing T-shirts featuring Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, during the warmup. The match never took place as Saudi authorities reportedly prohibited the display of Ataturk's image.
