Turkish club chairman resigns after team abandons Galatasaray match

Adana Demirspor chairman Bedirhan Durak announced his resignation on Monday morning, a day after the Turkish side walked off the pitch in protest during their Super Lig clash against Galatasaray.

“I now sadly see that we have reached a deadlock. For the sake of my club, my family, my loved ones, and my health, I hereby announce my resignation from the presidency,” Durak said in a statement.

The resignation follows Adana Demirspor’s decision to walk off the pitch 30 minutes into their Super Lig match at Galatasaray on Saturday night as they trailed 1-0 to a penalty. The game was later abandoned.

The decision to walk off was taken to protest against Turkey’s referees committee and football federation, several club officials said.

Bottom side Adana Demirspor were 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.