Turkish Clubs Prefer Super Cup to be Played at Home Instead of Saudi Arabia

Ahmed Asmar08/11/2023

1 minute read

Turkish clubs want Super Cup played at home, not Saudi

It’s understandable for Galatasaray and Fenerbahce to want the Turkish Super Cup to be played at home, especially given the centennial anniversary of the Turkish republic. This move reflects their desire to honor the historical significance of the event and share it with their fans within the borders of the Republic of Turkey.

Galatasaray and Fenerbahce are advocating for the Turkish Super Cup, scheduled for December 29th, to be played within Turkey rather than in Saudi Arabia. There is public pressure for the game to take place in Turkey as it marks the centennial anniversary of the proclamation of the Turkish republic.

The Turkish Super Cup, typically contested between the league champion (Galatasray) and cup winner (Fenerbahce), is currently set to be held at Al-Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh. This pushback against playing games in Saudi Arabia is uncommon within the sport of soccer, with the country having made efforts in recent years to host more international games and tournaments.

Fenerbahce put forth a motion for the Super Cup to be played at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul or the Samsun 19 Mayıs Stadium, both of which were unanimously accepted by the club. Samsun, located on the Black Sea coast, holds historical significance as it is where Mustafa Kemal Ataturk initiated the war of independence and ultimately established the Turkish Republic in 1923.

Galatasaray also expressed their desire for the match to take place within Turkish borders. The issue was addressed during a board meeting, with the club emphasizing the significance of the game occurring within the Turkish homeland. Additionally, it was noted that Spain and Italy have also recently held their Super Cups in Saudi Arabia.