Fenerbahçe players walk out of Super Cup final after a minute of play as club calls for ‘reset of Turkish football’
Turkish soccer club Fenerbahçe made a bold statement by calling for a “reset of Turkish football” and subsequently staging a walkout one minute into the Super Cup final against Galatasaray on Sunday, conceding the trophy.
Fenerbahçe opted to field an Under-19 team and withdrew from the match after Galatasaray’s Mauro Icardi scored. The decision was rooted in what Fenerbahçe president Ali Koç described as “injustices over 20 years” leading to their “rebellion.”
Koç emphasized the need for a comprehensive overhaul, stating, “We have now entered a period in which we must rebel against these injustices, inequalities, double standards, those who sow the seeds of unfair competition in plain sight, and the theft of our labor. It is time for a ‘reset’ for Turkish football. We are in a period when the swamp must be drained and Turkish football must rebuild itself.”
Galatasaray’s deputy chairman, Erden Timur, expressed regret over the disrupted match, highlighting the urgency of ending tensions and ensuring transparency regarding alleged injustices in football.
The fate of the abandoned Super Cup match will be determined by the TFF, with proceeds originally intended for earthquake victims in southern Turkey.
Turkish football has been marred by recent chaos, including spectator bans, fines, violent incidents, and calls for leadership resignations. Trabzonspor, Galatasaray, and Fenerbahçe have all voiced concerns and criticisms toward the TFF leadership, with a general election scheduled for July 18, though its scope remains unclear.
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