Galatasaray Fined for Unsportsmanlike Conduct in the Super Cup
The defeat left wounds open. The derby ended with a financial penalty and a decision that reignited tensions between Turkey’s two giants.
A sanction that goes beyond the scoreline
The Turkish Football Federation announced a financial sanction against Galatasaray on Friday for failing to take part in the medal ceremony following the Turkish Super Cup, which was played last weekend. The club was fined 1.1 million Turkish lira, equivalent to €22,000, after its 2–0 defeat to Fenerbahçe.
The decision was officially communicated by the TFF, which considered the team’s absence from the post-match protocol a disciplinary offense, particularly after a match marked by tension both on and off the pitch.
More fines and a heated atmosphere
The punishment for Galatasaray did not stop at the ceremony incident. The federation also imposed an additional fine of 220,000 lira (€4,400) due to the behavior of the club’s supporters during the match, as detailed in the official statement.
Fenerbahçe were not spared either. The yellow-and-navy club was fined €6,600 for the conduct of its fans, reflecting a derby that once again spilled over into the stands.
The origin of the conflict
The Super Cup, played at Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium, pitted Galatasaray — winners of the Turkish Cup and the 2024–25 Super League — against league runners-up Fenerbahçe. However, controversy began even before kickoff.
Fenerbahçe supporters disrupted the minute of silence in honor of Gökmen Özdenak, a former Galatasaray striker who passed away on December 31. That gesture prompted a reaction from the club, which chose not to attend the post-match ceremony as a form of protest.
Head coach Okan Buruk later explained that the decision was taken in direct response to what happened in the stands.
A rivalry that remains alive in the league
Despite the Super Cup defeat, Galatasaray remain top of the Turkish Super League, holding a three-point lead over Fenerbahçe — a guarantee that the rivalry will continue to define the season.
The Super Cup may be over, but its consequences are still being felt… in the boardrooms and in the stands.
