Turkish side Adana Demirspor walks off pitch during league match against Galatasaray

Turkish side Adana Demirspor walks off pitch during league match against Galatasaray

Turkish side Adana Demirspor walked off the pitch 30 minutes into its Super Lig game at Galatasaray on Sunday as it trailed 1-0 to a penalty.

The decision to walk off was taken to protest to Turkey’s referees committee and football federation, Adana Demirspor President Murat Sancak said according to Turkish news website T24.

Sancak said smaller clubs were treated unfairly and their issues were not resolved, T24 reported, without giving details.

Bottom side Adana Demirspor was losing to a 12th minute spot kick by Galatasaray’s Spanish striker Alvaro Morata.

Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk said in an interview after the visitors had walked off the field that the penalty could have been an incorrect decision. 

“If a referee mistake was made, it will be evaluated. In my opinion, it was a position closer to not being a penalty. This is not the first mistake made against Adana Demirspor,” said Buruk.

“This is a great harm done to Turkish football,” Buruk said. “I am saddened for Turkish soccer. There is always an effort to make Turkish soccer look bad to the outside world.”