Adana Demirspor’s club president, Bedirhan Durak, tendered his resignation after ordering his players off the pitch during a Turkish Super Lig clash with Galatasaray a move that has ignited further controversy in an already volatile league.
The incident unfolded in the 32nd minute of the match after Galatasaray’s Alvaro Morata converted a 12th-minute penalty. The decision, coming off a contentious call when Dries Mertens was deemed fouled by defender Semih Guler validated by VAR proved too much for Durak.
In a statement that resonated with frustration and resolve, he declared, “I am resigning from the presidency, which was granted to me for the sake of my club, my family, my loved ones and my health, for a better tomorrow.” He added, “I have always ignored the supportive and harassing messages on social media for the benefit of my club.”
His directive to head coach Mustafa Alper Avci and the players to leave the field forced an early abandonment of the match, leaving fans and officials in stunned silence.
This dramatic protest is not an isolated incident in Turkish football. Recent months have seen similar unrest from MKE Ankaragucu’s president’s arrest after a referee altercation, to Fenerbahce’s threatened exit over perceived injustices, and even Jose Mourinho’s disciplinary ban.
