Political row derails Turkish Super Cup final between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce

The highly anticipated Turkish Super Cup final clash between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce faced an unexpected halt in Riyadh. 

Scheduled to electrify the crowd on Friday, the showdown was suddenly called off as Saudi organisers barred players from donning jerseys with "political slogans."

Initially set to unfold at Riyadh's Al-Awwal Park stadium, the match met an abrupt postponement due to what was termed as "some problems" in the event's arrangements, disclosed by the Turkish clubs.

Amid preparations, both Galatasaray and Fenerbahce aimed to honour Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the visionary behind modern-day Turkey, by sporting attire featuring his image as a tribute to the country's 100th republic anniversary during the warm-up.

However, Saudi authorities refused this request, leading to a deadlock as the Turkish teams stood firm on their stance. Consequently, the Turkish Football Federation and the rival clubs unanimously decided to defer the Super Cup final.

According to Saudi state TV, the Riyadh Season organisers attributed the cancellation to the teams' non-compliance with match regulations, stressing the need for presenting the sport devoid of any extraneous slogans, as agreed upon in preparatory meetings.

Although efforts were made to reconcile the situation, paving the way for an amicable resolution, the outcome was the unfortunate postponement of the much-anticipated clash.

The standoff occurred against the backdrop of escalating tensions as media speculations suggested restrictions on Turkey's national anthem and flag during the final, a matter initially refuted by the Turkish Football Federation.

This abrupt turn of events adds to a series of controversies engulfing Turkish football, including the recent arrest of Ankaragucu's president for assaulting a referee and subsequent league suspensions due to escalating violence.

With the dust yet to settle, the fate of the rescheduled Super Cup final remains uncertain, leaving football enthusiasts on edge. The saga unfurled amidst the backdrop of Turkey's endeavour to mend ties with Saudi Arabia, following strained relations post the Jamal Khashoggi incident in 2018.