ANKARA (Reuters) - In a stunning turn of events, 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.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the Turkish football community, with many calling for calm and others demanding accountability from the officials involved.
According to eyewitnesses, the match was abandoned after a series of contentious decisions by the referee, which led to tensions boiling over between the two teams.
Adana Demirspor players and staff took exception to several calls, including a disputed penalty and a red card shown to one of their players, and eventually decided to leave the pitch in protest.
The incident has sparked a heated debate about the standard of refereeing in the Turkish Super Lig, with many calling for improvements to be made to ensure the integrity of the competition.
Chairman Bedirhan Durak, who had been a vocal critic of the refereeing standards in the league, said that he could no longer continue in his role and announced his resignation in a statement released on social media.
The development has thrown the club into crisis, with many questioning who will take over the reins and lead the team forward.
Galatasaray, who were leading the match at the time of the abandonment, have released a statement calling for calm and urging the authorities to take action against those responsible for the incident.
The Turkish Football Federation has announced an immediate investigation into the incident and is expected to take disciplinary action against those found to be responsible.
The incident has also sparked a wider debate about the state of football in Turkey, with many calling for reforms to be made to ensure that the beautiful game is played in a fair and respectful manner.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is certain - the resignation of Chairman Bedirhan Durak has sent shockwaves through the Turkish football community and will have far-reaching consequences for the sport in the country.