In a surprising turn of events, the Turkish Super Cup final between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce was abruptly called off as both teams adamantly refused to play, protesting against the Saudi Arabian authorities’ refusal to permit the honouring of Turkey’s revered founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
The match, slated to take place at Al-Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh following negotiations between the Turkish Football Federation and Saudi officials, faced an unexpected setback just hours before kickoff.
The Saudis banned the teams from wearing t-shirts featuring Ataturk during their warm-ups, sparking a collective decision by the Turkish sides to withdraw from the game.
The contentious move by the Saudi authorities, denying recognition to Ataturk on the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the secular Turkish Republic, added fuel to an already simmering dispute over the location of the match in the Middle East state.
While there were initial concerns about restrictions on Turkey’s national anthem and flag, the Turkish Football Federation clarified that these elements would be included in the event.
Despite this assurance, both Galatasaray and Fenerbahce stood firm in their refusal to compromise on honoring their national values, as expressed by Galatasaray vice-president Erden Timur: “We did what was necessary. We are returning to our country. No one can ignore our values.”