On the first day of the Turkish Super Lig's resumption following a week-long suspension over the manhandling of a referee by a club president, a fresh controversy erupted. Tuesday's drama also, incidentally, involved a team president and match referee in the middle!
Bottom-placed Istanbulspor's president made his team abandon the game and walk off in a show protest against an unfavourable refereeing decision during the game.
The week-long suspension of the Turkish top-tier league came after Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca attacked referee Halil Umut Meler after the full-time whistle. Koca
Istanbulspor president Ecmel Faik Sarialioglu didn't go anywhere near Koca's action but still attracted much criticism for his unsportsmanlike behaviour.
The fourth-placed Trabzonspor was leading Istanbulspor 2-1 when Florian Loshaj and Batista Mendy collided. Sarialioglu was infuriated when the referee denied his side a penalty over the incident that happened inside the opposition box, The Guardian said in a report.
The club chairman invaded the pitch in the 73rd minute and asked his players to walk off, the report added. He didn't relent even as many of his players pleaded that they should finish the contest despite the harsh call by the referee.
The game was ultimately abandoned. Trabzonspor confirmed that they will approach the football federation against Istanbulspor.
