Turkish football witnessed a dramatic twist as the highly anticipated Super Lig clash between table-toppers Galatasaray and bottom-placed Adana Demirspor was abruptly abandoned following a controversial protest by the visitors.
The match at Rams Park was halted after just 34 minutes when Adana Demirspor players walked off the pitch in response to what they believed was an unfair refereeing decision. The incident, which sent shockwaves across Turkish football, has further ignited the ongoing debate surrounding the standard of officiating in the country’s top tier.
Morata’s Controversial Penalty Sparks Outrage
The tension began early when Galatasaray was awarded a contentious 12th-minute penalty.
Dries Mertens went down in the box after what appeared to be minimal contact from an Adana Demirspor defender. The referee pointed to the spot, and Alvaro Morata—on loan from AC Milan— converted, marking his second goal in three games for the Istanbul giants.
The decision infuriated the visitors, with Adana Demirspor manager Mustafa Alper Avci seen calling his players over to the touchline shortly after, seemingly discussing their next move.
Moments later, as Adana midfielder Yusuf Barasi was receiving treatment for an injury, the team abruptly left the pitch and headed straight to the dressing room.
Referee Forced to Abandon the Match
As confusion reigned inside the stadium, Galatasaray players and match officials eventually followed Adana Demirspor into the tunnel. Twenty minutes after the game was halted, the stadium announcer confirmed that the match had been officially abandoned due to Adana’s withdrawal.
According to reports from Turkiye Today, former Adana Demirspor president Metin Korkmaz later revealed that the club’s actions were a direct protest against the Refereeing Committee, rather than an attack on Galatasaray.
“This is a protest against the referees, not against Galatasaray,” Korkmaz stated, adding that club president Murat Sancak would provide further clarification in due course.
Refereeing Controversy Dominates Turkish Football
The shocking scenes in Istanbul have only added fuel to the growing concerns over officiating standards in Turkey’s Super Lig.
Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has been particularly vocal on the issue, branding the league ‘toxic’ and even threatening to boycott the Turkish Cup in protest against what he perceives as unfair refereeing.
Meanwhile, Adana Demirspor remain rock bottom of the league table, with just 5 points from 21 matches and a concerning -30 goal difference.
Their latest actions will likely lead to further sanctions, but for now, the focus remains on the Turkish Football Federation and how they will respond to yet another refereeing controversy.
