Turkish Super Cup clash in Riyadh axed over agreement breach

The highly anticipated Turkish Super Cup football match between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray in Riyadh faced cancellation, officially confirmed by Riyadh Season in a recent statement. The scheduled Friday showdown at Al Awwal Park Stadium left eager fans disappointed as both teams failed to make an appearance.

Amidst media speculations, it is suggested that the cancellation arose from the teams’ alleged intent to display political slogans, a deviation from the conditions agreed upon with the Saudi host authorities.

Riyadh Season, the event’s organizing body, underscored the significance of abiding by international football regulations prohibiting the exhibition of external symbols or slogans in their official statement. The statement emphasized that adherence to these regulations was a pivotal point of discussion and agreement with the Turkish Football Federation during the match’s preparation.

Despite prior agreements to show respect for Turkish national symbols by playing the national anthem and displaying the Turkish flag within the stadium, the non-compliance of the teams with the mutually settled terms ultimately led to the regrettable cancellation. Riyadh Season’s statement also highlighted the robust and diverse relationship between Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Turkey, extending beyond sports into various facets of bilateral ties.