New Delhi: Turkish side Adana Demirspor left the pitch 30 minutes into their Super Lig game at Galatasaray as they trailed 1-0 to a penalty on Sunday. The decision came after a disputed penalty was awarded to Galatasaray in the 12th minute, which new signing Alvaro Morata converted to give his side the lead.
Shortly after the goal, Adana Demirspor manager Mustafa Alper Avcı gathered his players for a quick discussion before leading them off the pitch. The referee also exited the field, and the match was officially suspended.
Türk futbolunda oluşturmak istenen düzene karşı dik duran şehrimizin takımı Adana Demirspor’un yanındayız!
#GSvADS pic.twitter.com/A8nSCNjoj8
— Adanacity (@bizadanaliyik) February 9, 2025
Protest against refereeing decisions
Adana Demirspor vice president Metin Korkmaz clarified after the match that their decision was not aimed at Galatasaray but at the referees. He pointed out that club president Murat Sancak had previously expressed concerns about officiating, saying, “I hope the referee doesn’t want to look cute for Galatasaray,” in a television interview before the match.
Following the game, Sancak confirmed that the penalty decision was the reason behind their actions. He also admitted that Adana Demirspor were unlikely to win regardless, stating, “We were 99% going to lose today anyway.”
The club even released a statement on their social media account after the match to clarify their stand. The Turkish Football Federation will now decide the outcome of the match.
KAMUOYUNA DUYURUMUZDUR pic.twitter.com/EVovro3K23
— Adana Demirspor (@AdsKulubu) February 10, 2025
In an interview, Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk criticized the walk-off, calling it harmful to Turkish football. “I don’t think this is a very innocent decision. This is a big damage for Turkish football. I am sorry. There is always an effort to make Turkish football look bad,” he said.
Refereeing controversy in Turkey
This is not the first time a Turkish club has left the field in protest. Last season, Istanbulspor also walked off in a match against Trabzonspor, which clearly highlights the growing frustration with refereeing decisions in the league.
Concerns over biased officiating have been a long-standing issue in Turkish football. To address this, even foreign referees have been introduced as VAR officials. However, the condition didn’t improve, and the controversies still persist, as seen in last season’s shocking incident where referee Halil Umut Meler was physically attacked by MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca.
Following other speculation that Fenerbahce president Ali Koc influenced Adana Demirspor’s decision, Sancak strongly denied any external involvement. He said, “Neither Ali Koc nor the richest man in Turkey can buy me.”
With the Turkish Football Federation yet to make a final ruling, this incident has once again put the spotlight on refereeing standards and fairness in Turkish football.
Morata’s penalty gives Galatasaray the lead but Adana Demirspor’s controversial walk-off steals the show. Did a disputed call cause a Super Lig meltdown? Find out! Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
