Turkish giants field reserve team, forfeit cup final against arch rivals after three mins in bizarre protest

Fenerbahce walked off the field after three minutes of the rescheduled Turkish Supercup against Galatasaray on Sunday as a protest against alleged unfair treatment.

Fenerbahce fielded an Under-19 team for the game against their Istanbul rivals.

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Galatasaray went ahead after three minutes with a goal from Mauro Icardi. Fenerbahce then walked off, as Turkish media had reported ahead of the game that they planned to kick off and then forfeit the match.

“It is time for Turkish football to be reset,” said Fenerbahce president Ali Koc at a press conference before the match, more than 1,000 kilometres from Istanbul in Sanliurfa which was hit by the 2023 earthquake.

The proceeds from the game are to be donated to the victims of the quake which killed more than 53,500 people in Turkey.

Fenerbahce are chasing their first Turkish title since 2014 and are two points behind champions Galatasaray with seven rounds to go.

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Fenerbahce claim they are being picked on.

They had asked for the Supercup to be postponed ahead of their Europa League quarter-final against Olympiakos on Thursday.

The club also demanded that a foreign referee take charge citing unfavourable treatment from Turkish referees.

The Turkish Football Federation, which on Wednesday sentenced two Fenerbahce players to one-match