Turkish football was again rocked by a new crisis yesterday after Adana Demirspor – a team from southern Turkey, currently at the bottom of the league – decided to abandon the game in Istanbul against Galatasaray after the referee blew for a penalty against it that players and coach felt had been faked.
The incident unfolded just 11 minutes into the match at Rams Park in Istanbul, when referee Oğuzhan Çakır pointed to a penalty for Galatasaray – the current Turkish league leader – after German-born defender Semih Güler allegedly brought down Dries Mertens in the box. After consulting the VAR, the referee’s decision was upheld despite Demirspor’s players and coaching staff claiming that Mertens had faked the fall.
Despite the away team’s protests, the penalty was eventually awarded to Spain’s Alvaro Morata, who scored his first goal since joining Galatasaray. Outraged by what had happened, Adana coach Mustafa Alper Avcı ultimately decided to leave the pitch after 30 minutes amid loud boos from the Galata fans watching the game. After waiting a few minutes, the referee announced the suspension of the match.
The club subsequently stated that the decision to abandon the match was not against Galatasaray, but against the Central Refereeing Board (MHK): ‘It is a reaction against the refereeing body, not against Galatasaray,’ said Adana Demirspor vice-president Metin Korkmaz. Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk, meanwhile, lamented the image of the Turkish Super Lig: ‘This damages our league. We already have problems with the image we have abroad, and incidents like this don’t help,’ said the Turkish coach.
Resignations and possible sanctions against the team
Following these incidents, the Adana president announced his resignation via social media. ‘Since October I have invested my time, my money and my health in this club. But now I see that we are caught in a storm from which we cannot escape. For the sake of my club, my family and my health, I am resigning,’ said Bedirhan Durak.
The disciplinary committee of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) must now make a decision on the match and could impose sanctions on Adana Demirspor in addition to awarding the victory to Galatasaray. A year ago, the TFF already sanctioned Istanbulspor with a 3-0 defeat and the withdrawal of three points after it also abandoned a match against Trabzonspor in protest at the referee‘s decisions.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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