Turkish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia cancelled as Fenerbahce and Galatasaray refuse to play

The Turkish Super Cup final has been cancelled after both Fenerbahce and Galatasaray failed to show up.

A dispute with their hosts Saudi Arabia has led to the match being cancelled with neither team willing to play.

Both Fenerbahce and Galatasaray failed to report to the Al Awwal Park stadium for kick-off, which was scheduled for 20.45pm local time (17.45pm GMT) on Friday.

According to Turkish news outlet Cumhuriyet, the dispute is centred around Saudi Arabian officials refusing to display banners and shirts depicting words of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, modern Turkey's founder.

Both Turkish sides wanted to commemorate the leader due to it being the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic.

The Turkish Football Federation denied reports that Saudi officials tried to block the singing of Turkey's national anthem before kick-off.

«The Super Cup match will start in the presence of our Turkish flag, with 100th anniversary celebration events, a moment of silence for our martyrs and our National Anthem to be read by artist Norm Ender,» the federation told Anadolu Agency.

An official social media statement has yet to be made on the situation from either side, though Galatasaray vice-president Erden Timur said: «We did what was necessary.

»We are returning to our country. No one can ignore our values."

Boss Okan Buruk added: «The match will not be played, we are returning.»

It has been stated that neither team were willing to leave their hotels for the stadium.

It is further reported in Turkey that club staff from both sides have now left the Al Awwal Park stadium with kits and equipment, having arrived earlier.

Galatasaray qualified for the Turkish Super Cup final after winning the league for a 23rd time last season.

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