Victor Osimhen was in action for Galatasaray as their Turkish Super Lig match against Adana Demirspor ended in dramatic fashion when the visiting team walked off in protest. The first-half controversy erupted after a penalty was awarded against Adana Demirspor, leading to the match’s suspension.
Galatasaray, sitting at the top of the table, took an early lead in the 12th minute when new signing Alvaro Morata converted the penalty against the league’s bottom-placed side.
However, moments later, Adana Demirspor’s manager, Mustafa Alper Avcı, gathered his players for a discussion. In an unexpected move, the entire squad left the field and headed to the dressing room.
The referee soon followed, and officials later confirmed that the match would not continue.
Adana Demirspor vice president Metin Korkmaz clarified that the protest was aimed at the refereeing board rather than Galatasaray. Club president Murat Sancak, who had previously expressed concerns about officiating, took responsibility for the decision.
“I hope the referee doesn’t try to look favorable for Galatasaray,” Sancak had remarked in a television interview before the match. Afterward, he confirmed that the penalty call was the sole reason for instructing his players to leave.
“We were 99% going to lose today anyway,” he admitted.
The Turkish Football Federation is now set to determine the final outcome of the match.
Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk voiced his frustration over the incident, stating, “This isn’t an innocent decision. It’s a major setback for Turkish football. There’s always an attempt to damage its reputation.”
This protest mirrors a similar incident last season when Istanbulspor walked off during a match against Trabzonspor. Refereeing controversies have long plagued the Turkish top flight, prompting the league to enlist foreign referees for VAR duties.
Tensions surrounding officiating escalated last season when MKE Ankaragucu’s president, Faruk Koca, physically attacked referee Halil Umut Meler after a match, further fueling concerns about the state of Turkish football.