The Saudi Arabian organisers of the cancelled Turkish Super Cup match in Riyadh have hit back in a dispute over political symbolism.
Fierce rivals Fenerbahce and Galatasaray were due to meet at the Al-Awwal Stadium on Friday evening but the game was called off despite thousands of fans already being inside.
A row erupted when the Saudi authorities refused banners celebrating the revered father of the modern Turkish state Mustafa Kemal Ataturk on the centenary of the nation’s birth.
A banner bearing Ataturk’s words ‘Peace at home, peace in the world’ was expected to be displayed inside the stadium and the players were due to warm-up in t-shirts bearing his image.
However, the local authorities moved to postpone the game at short notice and Riyadh Season, the organisers of the match, claimed promises had been broken.
The Turkish Super Cup final between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce in Riyadh was postponed at short notice on Friday night after a row erupted over t-shirts and banners paying homage to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey
Thousands of supporters were already inside the Al-Awwal Stadium in Riyadh when the decision was taken to postpone the meeting of the fierce Istanbul rivals
Lights of the stadium were switched off with fans leaving the venue after the cancellation
Both teams returned to Istanbul late on Friday night and were greeted by hundreds of fans at the airport, with Turkish flags waved and flares let off
Galatasaray player Wilfried Zaha is seen leaving the team hotel in the Saudi Arabian capital
A statement released by match organisers Riyadh Season said certain things the Turkish Football Federation and the teams wanted to do were not agreed upon beforehand
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‘We had been looking forward to holding the match and in accordance with the international football rules and regulations; which required presenting the sport without any slogans outside its scope,’ a statement read.
‘Especially since this was discussed with the Football Federation of Turkiye within the framework of the match’s preparatory meetings, and the need to adhere to what is required by the regulations pertaining to this match, in accordance with the international rules and regulations, was emphasised.
‘It was also agreed that the national stadium of the Republic of Turkiye will be played, along with the display of the Turkiye flag inside the stadium and in the stands, due to the appreciation we hold for the Republic of Turkiye.
‘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.’
Earlier reports had suggested the Saudi officials had blocked the playing of Turkey’s national anthem ahead of the match, but this was quickly denied.
Thousands of fans of both teams were already inside the stadium when the decision was taken to postpone the match.
The two teams remained at their hotels, reports said, as crisis talks were held between Turkish and local officials.
The teams duly flew back to Istanbul late on Friday night and were greeted by hundreds of fans at the airport, many waving Turkish flags and holding aloft images of Ataturk.
It isn’t yet known when or where the Super Cup match will be replayed. Galatasaray are the reigning Super Lig champions, while Fenerbahce are the cup holders.
Galatasaray player Mauro Icardi is pictured on their team bus heading to Riyadh’s airport
Supporters waving the Turkish flag on the occasion of the country’s 100th anniversary gathered outside the airport in Istanbul to greet the teams home
Images of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, were prominent
Fenerbahce head coach Ismail Kartal arrives back at Sabiha Gokcen airport in Istanbul
Former Premier League star Zaha smiles as he leaves the airport after Galatasaray’s flight back
Fans of both clubs were seen outside the airport as the row over the postponement escalated
The Turkish federation blamed the postponement on ‘some problems in its organisation’ and thanks the Saudi Football Federation for their efforts in organising the event.
Ataturk was Turkey’s first president from 1923 until his death in 1938 and is regarded as a national hero for his revolutionary reforms to modernise the country from an Islamic to a secular one.
These included the adoption of Western legal systems, dress, calendar and the Latin alphabet, plus greater freedoms for women.
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 – with the decision taken to postpone.
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.
The cancellation is the latest controversy to hit Turkish domestic football in the past month
Galatasaray staff were pictured leaving the stadium after the match did not take place
Talks between the clubs and the Turkish Football Federation reportedly failed to find a solution
Fellow Turkish Super Lig clubs Besiktas and MKE Ankaragucu 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.’
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 incident came amid a recent warming of relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan visited Saudi Arabia in July amid efforts to repair ties that were ruptured after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in 2018.
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.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (left) with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Referee Halil Umut Meler (above) was released from Ankara hospital earlier this month
Meler was punched in the head during his side’s game against Rizespor on December 11
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.
Istanbulspor president Faik Sarialioglu (middle) stormed onto the pitch mid-game and ordered his players to walk off the field
The disgraceful scenes occurred after Trabzonspor scored a crucial goal, just minutes after Istanbulspor were denied a penalty
