- Players and staff were involved in a huge brawl on the pitch on Thursday night
- Matches in all Turkish football leagues were suspended for a week in December
- While Pep Guardiola is at Manchester City, it’s going to be difficult for anybody to knock them off their perch – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast
Turkish football was caught up in more ugly scenes after Galatasaray crashed out of the Europa League on Thursday night.
Players and staff were involved in a huge brawl on the pitch after Sparta Prague recovered from a 3-2 first-leg defeat to upset the Turkish giants with a 4-1 home win to advance 6-4 on aggregate.
The Czech champions scored three goals after the visitors were down to 10 men when Kaan Ayhan was sent off in the 68th minute.
It’s the latest controversy to hit Turkish football.
Matches in all Turkish football leagues were suspended for a week in December following a shocking attack on a referee.
Huge melee erupted after Galatasaray crashed out of the Europa League on Thursday night
Players and staff clashed on the pitch after Sparta Prague beat the Turkish giants
Players had to be restrained and one staff member was knocked to the ground during fracas
Halil Umut Meler was struck by MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca, who ran on to the pitch after his team conceded a 97th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 Super Lig draw with Caykur Rizespor.
Meler received several blows from others as he lay on the turf and suffered injuries including a minor fracture.
The incident sparked chaotic scenes involving players and club officials.
Koca resigned from his role and was handed a permanent ban by the TFF.
However, on the day the week-long suspension of professional football was lifted, the game was back in the spotlight after Istanbulspor chairman Ecmel Faik Sarialioglu appeared to instruct his team to stop playing.
Istanbulspor felt they should have been awarded a spot-kick when Florian Loshaj fell following a challenge by Batista Mendy.
On-loan Southampton striker Paul Onuachu then fired Trabzonspor into a 2-1 lead moments later.
Ref Halil Umut Meler was punched by MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca on December 11
Istanbulspor president Faik Sarialioglu ordered his players to walk off the field in protest
The Istanbulspor players then left the pitch, with the match halted in the 73rd minute.
Footage posted on social media showed Sarialioglu ushering his players off the pitch
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