CHAOS IN TURKEY AS PLAYERS WALK OFF IN THE 30TH MINUTE IN PROTEST AT PENALTY DECISION AFTER ALVARO MORATA SCORES FOR GALATASARAY - AS MATCH IS ABANDONED
- Adana Demirspor players walked off in protest following a penalty decision
- Alvaro Morata scored from the spot for Galatasaray but game was abandoned
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There were chaotic scenes in Turkey as Adana Demirspor players walked off the pitch during their game against Galatasaray in protest at a controversial penalty decision.
Alvaro Morata, who joined Galatasaray on loan from AC Milan, scored from the spot after 12 minutes but the game was game was initially suspended in the 34th minute before later being abandoned.
The penalty had been awarded after Galatasaray's Dries Mertens went down in the area despite Semih Guler not having made significant contact with him.
Adana boss Mustafa Alper Avci, whose team are bottom of the table, called his players over as Yusuf Barasi received treatment.
The Adana Demirspor players then walked off the pitch, with baffled Galatasaray players eventually doing likewise.
The officials, including referee Oguzhan Cakir, also left the pitch.
20 minutes after the players had left the pitch, the stadium announcer confirmed that the game had been abandoned.
As reported by Turkiye Today, the announcement said: 'The match has been abandoned by the referee due to Adana Demirspor withdrawing from the game.'
Adana Demirspor's former president, Metin Korkmaz, said: 'This is a protest against the Refereeing Committee, not Galatasaray.'
Galatasaray are currently top of the Super Lig by three points, while they have also now played a game fewer than their closest challengers Fenerbahce.
Morata was making his third appearance for Galatasaray - he also found the net in a 4-1 victory against Boluspor in the Turkish Cup.
Adana Demirspor have taken just five points from their 21 Super Lig matches so far this campaign.
Fenerbahce replied to a post by Galatasaray by writing: 'Keep deceiving our state and the Turkish Football Federation with your irregular contracts, black market ticket advertisements and illegal betting, the public with your manipulated media and insincere statements, and the referees and football fans with your football players that you have been trying to deceive for years!'
Galatasaray are set to return to action on Thursday when they face AZ Alkmaar away in the Europa League.
Meanwhile, Adana Demirspor host Antalayspor in the league on Friday.
The next league game for Galatasaray is away to Rizespor on February 17.
Read more 2025-02-09T20:05:33Z