Turkish Super Cup final in Riyadh cancelled amid row

The Turkish Super Cup match between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, which was due to take place in the Saudi capital Riyadh on December 29, was cancelled.

According to the Fanatik newspaper, the game was due to kick off at 21:45 Baku time, but the teams did not even arrive at the stadium. The reason is that the Saudi Arabian authorities did not allow the use of a banner bearing the motto of the founder of the modern Turkish state, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk: "Peace at home - peace in the world". The teams also wanted to wear T-shirts with the image of Ataturk on them.

The AS newspaper reported that the parties had tried to reach an agreement during the day to allow the match to go ahead. The Turkish Football Federation insisted that the national anthem would be played and the Turkish flag unfurled before the match. It was also expected that the teams' demand to wear T-shirts and carry a banner with Ataturk's motto would be resolved. But in the end, the Saudi authorities refused and the teams did not go to the stadium.