It should have been the highlight at the end of the year, but the top match in Turkey between league leaders Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, who are level on points, ended without a winner – and with mutual accusations
The Istanbul derby on Christmas Eve had a lot to offer – just no goals. At the end of a hard-fought 90 minutes with seven yellow cards, a number of tough tackles and some controversial decisions, the scoreboard read 0-0, meaning Fenerbahce go into the new year as leaders with a goal difference seven goals better than Galatasaray – and Mauro Icardi with a black eye.
The Galatasaray attacker, joint top scorer with Fenerbahce’s Edin Dzeko with twelve goals, had to take a lot of punishment in the summit clash. He was hit on the head by opponent Alexander Djiku, and the 30-year-old also crashed into the post with his face after a corner and a slight bump
Scenes that caused tempers to flare in the aftermath. Visiting coach Okan Buruk saw the blow himself from afar, “as it can happen in a boxing ring”, but the whistle from referee Arda Kardesler remained silent. In the end, the match remained without a penalty whistle or a sending-off – much to the annoyance of Galatasaray, who announced: “Those who only want justice for themselves manipulated Turkish soccer on all channels tonight! We show what the referees, the VAR and the 26 cameras could not see. Once again, we are ashamed on their behalf.” Under this statement, the club also posted a picture of Icardi with his black eye.
Fener captain Dzeko immediately replied. “Icardi crashed his head into the goalpost. They post it on Instagram and cry that there’s no penalty. Typical of them. Embarrassing.” Fenerbahce themselves reacted on the short messaging service X as follows: “Making yourself a victim after the player hit the post – we leave it to the public’s discretion.”
Galatasaray responded with a statement on Instagram: “Such statements only serve to manipulate and mislead our football-loving people and push soccer back in our country,” the club wrote under a video in which the hit against Icardi is shown from several camera angles. The city rivals were also accused of manipulating video footage of the scene.
Supercup on Friday in Saudi Arabia
But things should calm down quickly, because the two rivals will meet again on Friday – in Riyadh. The Turkish Super Cup between champions Galatasaray and cup winners Fenerbahce will take place there at 18:45. An event that provokes harsh criticism from Buruk. The Galatasaray coach finds it “ridiculous that two derbies are taking place one after the other”. For Buruk, “a ridiculous program”, especially as both teams have almost 30 competitive games under their belts so far and now have to travel to Saudi Arabia.
Nevertheless, Buruk’s team wants to “prepare for the game in the best possible way” and then “of course do our best to win”. Instead of “violets”, however, Icardi may be collecting goals again
