The Super Cup final scheduled to be played in Riyadh on December 29, 2023, at 20:45 between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray was canceled just hours before the match due to a crisis. Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray had planned to take the field wearing t-shirts with Atatürk prints and banners reading “How happy is the one who says I am a Turk!” and “Peace at Home, Peace in the World!” However, officials in Riyadh did not allow this, leading the club presidents to decide against taking the field and to return their teams to their country.
Subsequently, incidents during a Super Lig match between Trabzonspor and Fenerbahçe further escalated tensions between Fenerbahçe Sports Club and the Turkish Football Federation, pushing their relationship to the brink of collapse.
Following this tension, Fenerbahçe Sports Club held an extraordinary general assembly, considering all options, including withdrawing from the Super Lig, and summoned its 25,000 congress members to the stadium.
At the assembly, the decision to participate in the Super Cup with the U19 team was met with significant criticism on social media.
Why U19?
According to the announced schedule, Fenerbahçe, facing a UEFA Conference League playoff match during the Super Cup week, had openly proposed to the TFF to reschedule the already postponed final match and to appoint foreign referees to officiate the match. Fenerbahçe had stated they would play with their A team if these proposals were accepted. However, the TFF rejected these proposals, leading Fenerbahçe to participate with their U19 team as a protest against the TFF’s decision.
During the Match
Indeed, Fenerbahçe took to the field with their U19 team, and as many journalists had predicted, they intended to withdraw from the field at the first stoppage in play.
The game was halted in the first second after a goal by Icardi, and the players left the field. With the withdrawal of the opposing team at the first stoppage, Galatasaray, declared a 3-0 default winner, celebrated on the field.
International Media Reaction
Marca: “Scandal in Turkey: F.Bahçe leaves Super Cup after a minute in protest”
The Sun: “Fenerbahçe fielded a youth team and walked out of the Turkish Super Cup final just two minutes before handing the cup to their bitter rivals Galatasaray.”
Fenerbahçe has been at war with the Turkish Football Federation since last month’s shocking scenes at the final whistle of their victory against Trabzonspor.
Nos Sport: “Super Cup in Turkey turns into a disgrace.”
Calciomercato: “Short-lived cup in Turkey”
Many foreign sources defend Fenerbahçe’s protest as justified and criticize the Turkish Football Federation.
Unfortunately, the state of Turkish football is deplorable. After the match was rescheduled, the only criticism open to debate was the inability to use the semi-offside system due to a lack of infrastructure. However, so many incidents occurred that this issue was overlooked and not thoroughly discussed.
Had Fenerbahçe played the final match with their A Team, who would have been responsible for the mistakes of the semi-offside system? Would it be the Turkish Football Federation, which contributes to the national points and burdens its own team with a tight schedule?
Resources:
https://www.ntvspor.net/futbol/galatasaray-super-kupa-yi-kazandi-mi-ne-zaman-verilecek-galatasaray-super-kupa-yi-aldi-mi-66127d200117e9005f00f3be
https://www.indyturk.com/node/713761
Galatasaray’dan Süper Kupa paylaşımı – Son Dakika Haberleri
https://www.tgrthaber.com.tr/spor/super-kupa-maci-yarida-kaldi-fenerbahce-ceza-alacak-mi-2943323
https://twitter.com/marca/status/1777108228528115727?s=46
https://twitter.com/nossport/status/1777049827341160575?s=46
https://twitter.com/cmdotcom/status/1777279366810222803?s=46