Turkish Super Cup in Riyadh cancelled due to non-compliance with agreed terms

Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Turkish Super Cup football match between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray in Riyadh was cancelled, as confirmed by Riyadh Season in a statement. The match, which was scheduled to take place on Friday at Al Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh, saw fans gathering in anticipation, but the teams failed to make an appearance in the stadium.

Media speculations suggest that the cancellation was due to the teams’ intentions to display political slogans, a move that was not in line with the conditions set by the Saudi host authorities.

Riyadh Season, the organizing body for the event, emphasized in their statement the importance of adhering to international football regulations that prohibit the display of any external symbols or slogans. “This was a key point of discussion and agreement with the Turkish Football Federation during the preparation for the match,” the statement read.

The organizers had agreed to respect Turkish national symbols by playing the national anthem and displaying the Turkish flag inside the stadium. However, despite this gesture of respect and the consensus reached, the non-compliance of the teams with the agreed terms led to the unfortunate cancellation of the match.

The statement from Riyadh Season also highlighted the strong and multifaceted relationship between Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Turkey, including in the realm of sports.