Riyadh Season Explains Reasons for Calling off Turkish Super Cup Final

A view of the Al-Awwal Park stadium before the match was called off. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A view of the Al-Awwal Park stadium before the match was called off. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Riyadh Season Explains Reasons for Calling off Turkish Super Cup Final

A view of the Al-Awwal Park stadium before the match was called off. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A view of the Al-Awwal Park stadium before the match was called off. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Riyadh Season explained on Saturday the reasons for calling off the Turkish Super Cup final that was set to be held between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce at the Al-Awwal Park stadium in the Saudi capital on Friday.

In a statement, Riyadh Season expressed pride in the “close relationship” with Türkiye in various fields, including sports.

It said it was looking forward to holding the match as scheduled and according to football regulations and guidelines which stipulate that non-sports slogans are barred from matches.

The issue and regulations were underscored during discussions with the Turkish football federation in preparation for the final, continued the statement.

“An agreement was reached to play the Turkish national anthem and display the Turkish flag inside the stadium, given Türkiye's standing,” it added.

In spite of this agreement, “the two teams, unfortunately, did not respect it and the match was consequently called off,” it explained.



New Southampton Manager Juric Promises High-Intensity ‘Death Metal’ Style

Football - Premier League - Fulham v Southampton - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - December 22, 2024 New Southampton manager Ivan Juric before the match. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Fulham v Southampton - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - December 22, 2024 New Southampton manager Ivan Juric before the match. (Reuters)
TT

New Southampton Manager Juric Promises High-Intensity ‘Death Metal’ Style

Football - Premier League - Fulham v Southampton - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - December 22, 2024 New Southampton manager Ivan Juric before the match. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Fulham v Southampton - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - December 22, 2024 New Southampton manager Ivan Juric before the match. (Reuters)

Ivan Juric said he will try to implement a high-intensity brand of football at Southampton as he bids to guide the Premier League strugglers out of the relegation zone.

The former Croatia midfielder, who was appointed on an 18-month contract on Saturday, was previously in charge of AS Roma but was dismissed in November after only 12 matches in charge.

"When I was young, I liked death metal music a lot, and that's something I think my style of football is like," Juric told reporters on Monday.

"Work hard, press hard, play good, be intense, all this stuff. I think (the players) can do it. They are young, they are positive, they want to work hard. It's not easy to change the style immediately, but we have to be clever."

Bottom of the league with six points from 17 matches, Southampton are winless in their last seven league games and sit eight points adrift of safety.

"I know it will be a very tough job and I know that in the history nobody has stayed in the Premier League from this situation," the 49-year-old said, adding that he thought the side can do "something exceptional".

Juric's first game in charge is on Thursday when Southampton host West Ham United.