Statement from Adana Demirspor regarding the decision to withdraw from the pitch: Harsh reaction to Metin Öztürk and Okan Buruk!

In the 23rd week of the Süper Lig, league leaders Galatasaray hosted Adana Demirspor at home.

Galatasaray, who won a penalty in the 12th minute after Mertens went down, took a 1-0 lead with Morata's goal.

Following a dialogue between the Adana Demirspor players and the technical staff in the 30th minute of the match, the Mediterranean team walked off the pitch.

Adana Demirspor stated regarding their decision to walk off the pitch while trailing 1-0 against Galatasaray: "This decision is a reaction put forward by our club against the systematic and conscious referee errors and injustice."

In the statement made by the Blue-Navy team, it was noted that after the unfair penalty decision given against Adana Demirspor in the 12th minute of the match played at RAMS Park in the 23rd week of the Trendyol Süper Lig, they were waiting for VAR to be called.

Recalling that there was no call from VAR, the statement continued: "Our Federation President was called and our decision to walk off the pitch was communicated to him. Our decision was conveyed to the 4th official multiple times. However, due to the high noise level on the pitch, the process was delayed until the 30th minute as it took time to reach our players and for the necessary steps to be taken. This decision is a reaction put forward by our club against the systematic and conscious referee errors and injustice."

It was stated that Adana Demirspor has stood against all injustices with its "upright stance" as a whole, including its fans, players, and management, since the day it was founded.

Stating that patience had been shown regarding referee decisions, the statement noted the following:

"Unfair, erroneous, and biased decisions have continued to increase. Unfair, biased, and partisan referee decisions are not just against us, but consist of operations systematically carried out against the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) and the Central Referee Board (MHK). These interventions against the MHK and TFF have made referee errors a normal occurrence and have prevented our football from remaining clean. The complaints of clubs regarding the prevention of biased and scandalous decisions have been ignored many times, the justice of our football has been hindered, and operations targeting the TFF and MHK have been carried out. Today, we experienced one of these operations.

What happened today is a clear indicator of not only the impasse Adana Demirspor is in, but also the future of Turkish football. We would like to specifically state that this decision we made today is not directed at the Galatasaray Club and its community. It is clear that a big club like Galatasaray does not need a penalty decision given by 'intentionally tripping' in the 12th minute of the match. Such scandalous decisions deal a heavy blow to the competitive spirit and the principle of justice in football."

REACTION TO ÖZTÜRK AND BURUK

In the statement, which expressed reaction to Galatasaray Sports Club 2nd President Metin Öztürk and Head Coach Okan Buruk, the following was noted:

"Mr. Metin Öztürk's sentences such as 'They are far behind, they don't know what to do, they are miserable, they are helpless... I admit this is also their fault, if they had elected a proper management, if they were being managed properly, they wouldn't be in this situation' have exceeded their intent and crossed the line by showing the audacity to interfere in the internal affairs of a team. As for Mr. Okan Buruk, whom we expected to write his name in golden letters in Galatasaray history after Mr. Fatih Terim, his gestures and facial expressions, which were unbecoming of him towards our player and almost resembled scolding our player while giving instructions, displayed images far from sportsmanship and contrary to the spirit of the game.

We invite Mr. Okan Buruk to pay attention to his body language on the pitch in the future and to win everyone's affection. Implying that Adana Demirspor is part of a game did not suit the executives of a distinguished team like Galatasaray. We once again condemn these unfortunate statements by the Galatasaray management and hope that they will not be repeated. Despite all these thoughts and our approach, we inform the public that we strongly condemn the post-match statements of Galatasaray Sports Club 2nd President Mr. Metin Öztürk and Head Coach Mr. Okan Buruk."

The statement, which also included expectations from the Galatasaray Club after the match, used the following expressions: "We expected the Galatasaray Club to announce that they do not need an unfair penalty, and in this sense, to punish and exclude their theatrical players after their actions that gave rise to such a penalty. With such an attitude, they could have been applauded by the entire football world. Furthermore, we do not find the statements of both Mr. Öztürk and Mr. Buruk towards Adana Demirspor fans and players, with a condescending perspective as if they were distributing favors, to be sincere."

Stating that Adana Demirspor has been on the agenda in every period by standing by the righteous in social and societal events, the statement noted the following:

"Our club refuses to be a part of this distorted order into which Turkish football has been dragged. We demand that the interventions aimed at undermining the MHK and TFF be stopped. We declare to the entire public that we will not bow down to injustice, unfairness, and systematic errors. We hope that this decision we have taken will be a milestone and that injustices will now come to an end. We state that we are ready for any penalty to be given regarding our club and community, and we wish for Turkish football to return to green pitches where clean, fair, and honorable struggles take place.

Our struggle will continue until an order is established where the deserving win and justice prevails. Our advice to the Turkish Football Federation and its boards is this: It is your duty to fight against this structure. The board members brought you to management with the belief that you would fulfill this duty to the end. Fulfilling this sacred duty properly is your debt to Turkish football, to this country, and to those who voted for you. We want to believe that you will fight to the end on this matter and that you will not shy away from this struggle."

WHAT HAPPENED?

The Galatasaray-Adana Demirspor match, played in the 23rd week of the Süper Lig, was abandoned due to the visiting team walking off the pitch.

While the match held at RAMS Park was continuing with a 1-0 lead for the yellow-red team, the players of the Adana representative consulted with the bench and went to the locker room in the 34th minute.