On Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 12:51:20 p.m. UTC-4, Real Mardin wrote:
I donrCOt think IrCOve ever quite seen anything like what IrCOm about to describe.
The match was Gaziantep FK v Goztepe in the Turkish Super League. Goztepe started the game in the relegation zone 12 points behind Giresunspor, who were in the first place above the relegation zone. With 5 matches left Goztepe had to try to win all 5 and hope Giresun lost all 5. Improbable but not impossible.
With the score 0-0 in injury time and their relegation battle rivals Giresunspor crucially losing 2-1 away at Fatih Karagumruk, Goztepe seized the initiative. There was a dropped ball re-start in the centre circle, the referee rolled the ball to Soner, who attempted an audacious shot from the centre circlerCarCarCarCarCa.which went over the keeperrCOs head and deflected off the crossbar right into the path of Goztepe striker Adis Jahovic for a comfortable finish to put Goztepe 1-0 up. The fight to avoid relegation was still on!
However, the Gaziantep players and bench complained at the way the game was re-started. IrCOm not entirely clear at this stage whether it was the fact the ref basically passed the ball to Soner rather than dropping it, whether it was that their players werenrCOt ready for the re-start, but they certainly werenrCOt happy. After the usual remonstrations the referee maintained that the goal stood.
How did Goztepe defend this miracle lead that could cement their relegation battle fightback? Why of course, after the re-start they stood still to a man and let Figueiredo walk the ball into the net to equalise for Gaziantep! You see, Goztepe agreed there had been an infringement for their goal so let Gaziantep equalise as a fair play gesture. A gesture which while noble on a sportsmanship level, has condemned them to relegation.
Things got even stranger later on when Gaziantep were awarded a penalty which would have given them the chance to win the game. Before Muhammet Demir took the spot kick a team mate ran up to him and whispered something in his ear. Muhammet then took the penalty, which he quite blatantly passed wide of the goal, in a gesture seemingly to thank Goztepe for letting them score a few minutes ago.
Whilst there have been instances of teams allowing another team to walk the ball in to make up for an obvious refereeing decision that benefitted them, that a team would essentially relegate themselves with such a fair play gesture takes the concept to a whole new level. I canrCOt decide whether itrCOs an act of such nobility that it should be marked by UEFA with a Fair Play Award or an act which disrespects and lets down the fans whorCOve supported them all season and didnrCOt give up believing that they wouldnrCOt be relegated.
RM
As you said, the reality is they had an impossible task to get promoted. I have to admire their sportsmanship, but unfourtanetly we live in a world where you are more admired for selling your Mother down the river for a fiver.
Do all 4 go down automatically?
14 Gaziantep FK Gaziantep 34 -6 42
15 Kayserispor Kayserispor 33 -8 42
16 Giresunspor Giresunspor (N) 34 -5 40
17 Altay SK Altay (N) 33 -15 30
18 Rizespor Rize 34 -32 30
19 G||ztepe Izmir G||ztepe 34 -20 28
20 Yeni Malatyaspor Malatya 34 -33 20
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* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)