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- Both teams had planned to commemorate modern Turkey’s 100th anniversary
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The Turkish Super Cup final between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray has reportedly been cancelled amid a dispute with hosts Saudi Arabia.
Both teams did not report to the Al-Awwal Park stadium ahead of the 20.45pm local time (17.45pm GMT) kick-off for the match, as clubs held talks with the Turkish Football Federation.
Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet reported that the match has not been cancelled with an agreement unable to be found.
The dispute reportedly centred around Saudi Arabian authorities blocking both clubs from displaying banners and wearing shirts featuring the words of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, modern Turkey’s founder.
The match coincides with the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish republic.
Reports had earlier claimed Saudi officials had blocked Turkey’s national anthem from being played ahead of the match. These reports were denied by the Turkish Football Federation.
‘The Super Cup match will start in the presence of our Turkish flag, with 100th anniversary celebration events, a moment of silence for our martyrs and our National Anthem to be read by artist Norm Ender,’ the federation told Anadolu Agency.
Galatasaray President Dursun Ozbek and Fenerbahce counterpart Ali Koc reportedly held a crunch meeting with Turkish Football Federation President Mehmet Buyukeksi to determine whether the match would take place.
Galatasaray had announced prior to the match the team would wear a special shirt to commemorate the 100th anniversary celebrations.
‘We will go to the Fenerbahce match with our jersey specially prepared for the 100th anniversary of our Republic,’ Galatasaray wrote on social media.
Turkish reports claim Saudi authorities did not allow a banner featuring the statement ‘Peace at Home, Peace in the World’ and Ataturk t-shirts being displayed ahead of the match.
Cumhuriyet reported talks have failed to deliver a solution with the match now having been cancelled.
Both clubs are reportedly expected to leave Saudi Arabia this evening. Footage emerged on social media reportedly showing Galatasaray packing their coach ahead of the travelling to the airport.
Official confirmation of the decision is yet to be announced by either club or the Turkish Football Federation.
Fellow Turkish Super Lig clubs Besiktas and MKE Ankaragucu, however, have since offered to host the final at a later date.
‘Our Door is Open,’ a Besiktas statement read.
‘We expect Ataturk lovers to Dolmabahçe with Turkish flags to play the Super Cup final, which will be played in the 100th anniversary of our Republic, on an appropriate date, in our Ataturk’s district, in the most beautiful stadium in the world.’
Ankaragucu added: ‘The Super Cup final, formerly known as the President’s Cup; This is our invitation to TFF and our clubs to play in our capital Ankara on the 100th anniversary of our Republic.’
Reigning Turkish champions Galatasaray had been due to face rivals and Turkish Cup winners Fenerbahce in the final.
The match had been due to take place outside Turkish for only the fifth time, with Germany hosting on three occasions and Qatar once.
The rivals were meeting less than a week after the teams clashed, with Galatasaray forward Mauro Icardi posting a picture with a black eye he sustained in the match.
The latest controversy comes after referee Halil Umut Meler was punched at the end of a Turkish top-flight match at the start of the month.
Former Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca ran on to the field and attacked Meler after his team conceded a 97th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 Super Lig draw with Caykur Rizespor in Turkey.
Speaking about the incident, Meler told Turkish outlet Hurriyet: ‘The person who did this punched me, I collapsed and fell to the ground. But the actual kicking while I was on the ground will be something I will never forget for the rest of my life.
Koca was handed a lifetime ban by Turkey’s football federation
The Turkish football federation’s disciplinary board has also ordered Ankaragucu to play five home matches behind closed doors and fined the club 60,000 euros ($66,000).
All leagues were suspended by the TFF the aftermath and the top-flight resumed on Tuesday. But one of the three games scheduled was abandoned when Istanbulspor’s president withdrew his team from the pitch in protest at a refereeing decision in their game against Trabzonspor.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
