The Turkish Süper Lig was shaken by an unprecedented incident during the match between Galatasaray and Adana Demirspor. In protest against a controversial penalty awarded to Galatasaray, Adana Demirspor players walked off the pitch in the 33rd minute, leading to the match being interrupted and postponed.

This dramatic turn of events comes amid rising tensions between Turkey’s top clubs and the country’s football authorities. According to the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) regulations, any team that abandons a match risks forfeiture and a points deduction, which could have serious consequences for Adana Demirspor’s standings.

The incident immediately sparked passionate reactions. Adana Demirspor’s president, Murat Sancak, defended his team’s decision, stating that the protest was aimed at the federation rather than Galatasaray while rejecting any external influence. Meanwhile, Galatasaray’s coach, Okan Buruk, suggested that the decision to leave the pitch had been orchestrated behind the scenes, calling it an attempt to destabilize Turkish football. At the same time, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray’s fierce rival, seized the opportunity to demand reforms and condemn a “corrupt system,” while José Mourinho, always one for theatrics, reacted with a sarcastic social media post.

This latest controversy further deepens the crisis engulfing Turkish football, where accusations of corruption, questionable refereeing decisions, and bitter club rivalries have overshadowed the sport itself. The TFF is expected to make a ruling in the coming days, but whatever the outcome, it is likely to further inflame an already volatile league.