Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, who will meet in the Super Cup match, have decided to return to Turkey after they were not allowed to wear t-shirts with Atatürk’s image!
The Super Cup scheduled to start at 20.45 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been postponed! According to breaking news, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe have decided not to play the match and return to Turkey after they were not allowed to wear t-shirts with Atatürk’s image!
CRITICAL MEETING LASTED HOURS
Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Osman Aşkın Bak, TFF President Mehmet Büyükekşi, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe Presidents Dursun Özbek and Ali Koç held a meeting after the crisis erupted when Saudi authorities refused to allow the two teams to take the field with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk banners on the 100th anniversary of the Republic. The meeting, which took place in Riyadh, lasted close to two hours and after the meeting failed to produce a result, the teams were instructed not to leave their hotels.
Match will be played; National anthem will be sung, t-shirts and banners are not allowed
According to TRT Spor, a meeting between the TFF and the club executives resulted in the decision to play the match.
According to NTV Spor, the National Anthem will be sung before the match, banners and t-shirts are not allowed.
Statement from Ali Koç
Fenerbahçe Club President Ali Koç made statements before tonight’s Super Cup match in Saudi Arabia. Koç stated that the banner they wanted to appear in the Galatasaray derby was not accepted.
Stating that they wanted to go to the match with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s “Peace at home, peace in the world” banner, Koç said, “I think it has not been accepted by the authorities yet. It is not clear, we will see according to the situation.”
Speaking about the venue of the Super Cup, Koç said, “I don’t find the discussions about the Super Cup being played in Riyadh sincere. Italy and Spain are playing a quadruple Super Cup, the eyes of the world are here. We actually wanted Germany, the TFF wanted it too, but Germany did not accept.”
“We won’t play the match” rest from Galatasaray management
According to Milliyet’s Nevzat Dindar, Galatasaray’s general secretary Eray Yazgan said, “If the national anthem is not allowed, we will not take the field.”
Statement from TFF
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) made the following statement regarding the crisis before the Super Cup match to be played in Saudi Arabia:
“The Super Cup Match will start in the presence of our Turkish Flag, with the 100th Anniversary Celebration Events, a moment of silence for our Martyrs and our National Anthem to be read by artist Norm Ender.”
Jersey statement from Galatasaray
Galatasaray announced that they will start the match with a special 100th anniversary jersey.
In the statement made on the social media account of the yellow-red club, the following statement was made: “We will go to the Fenerbahçe match with our jersey specially prepared for the 100th anniversary of our Republic!”
Ali Koç and Dursun Özbek in meeting with TFF
The meeting between Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President Mehmet Büyükekşi and the presidents of Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe started.
Ahead of the Turkcell Super Cup match between Galatasaray, the Super League 2022-2023 Season Champion, and Fenerbahçe, the Ziraat Turkish Cup Champion, to be played tonight at Al-Awwal Park (King Saud University) Stadium in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, at 20:45, the decisions taken by the Saudi authorities had mobilized the two clubs. Following the developments, Galatasaray Club President Dursun Özbek and Fenerbahçe Club President Ali Koç met with TFF President Mehmet Büyükekşi. The club presidents arrived at the hotel where the TFF is staying and held a meeting with TFF officials about the latest situation.
Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek did not make a statement at the entrance of the hotel, while Fenerbahçe President Ali Koç said, “We were called. We will make a statement at the exit if necessary.”
