The Turkish Super Cup final between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, scheduled to be played in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh on Friday, was postponed over what the clubs described as “some problems” in the event’s organization. According to media reports, at the heart of those issues was the wish of the two Istanbul teams to wear t-shirts featuring the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, during the warm-up before the evening kick-off. The move angered the Saudi authorities, who ordered the teams to remain in their hotels instead of proceeding to Al-Awwal Park stadium at King Saud University.
Canceling the highly-anticipated match adds to a tumultuous month in Turkish soccer. The president of top-tier club Ankaragucu, Faruk Koca, was arrested on December 12 after punching a referee at the end of a game, and the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) subsequently banned him permanently and sanctioned his club. The league was temporarily suspended, and when it resumed, Istanbulspor walked off the pitch in protest of a refereeing decision during a Super Lig match against Trabzonspor, leading to the match being abandoned.
Both clubs expressed gratitude to the host country and noted disruptions in the preparations. The event organizers, Riyadh Season, lamented that despite prior agreements, the teams failed to adhere to agreed-upon terms, ultimately resulting in the unfortunate cancellation of the final.
A Turkish official said the decision to postpone the final was made to ensure that the game was held on the same day as the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the secular Turkish Republic. The TFF was due to make a further announcement about the rescheduled date of the match.
Reports say that Saudi authorities objected to posters and t-shirts displaying Ataturk’s visage, a banner bearing his famous quote ‘Peace at Home, Peace in the World,’ and the playing of the national anthem. The Turkish football body has been told to resolve the issue by Friday when officials will meet with the teams at their hotels to discuss the matter.
Local media reports say that the teams were not allowed to enter the stadium for the final and were instructed to stay at their hotel until the Turkish federation’s representatives had resolved the matter. The TFF and the teams have expressed their regret over the cancellation and have vowed to hold the match as soon as possible when all of the requirements for the game will be met.
