Galatasaray’s UEFA exit marred by heated on-field fight with Young Boys
Fernando Muslera (R) of Galatasaray and Ebrima Colley of Young Boys quarrel during the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg match against Young Boys in Istanbul, Turkiye on August 27, 2024. (AA Photo)
Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League journey ended in disappointment after a 1-0 home defeat to Switzerland’s Young Boys.
The match, which was crucial for Galatasaray’s Champions League aspirations, was marred by an intense on-field fight that became the focal point of the night.
The 4-2 aggregate loss to Young Boys not only eliminated Galatasaray from the competition but also highlighted the tensions that boiled over during the game.
Tensions flare between Galatasaray-Young Boys during key UEFA match
In the 80th minute, Young Boys’ player Ebrima Colley exited the field slowly after being substituted, claiming that objects were thrown at him by Galatasaray fans. This led Colley to re-enter the pitch, sparking outrage among the home supporters.
His “silence” gesture toward the crowd escalated the situation, resulting in a brief halt to the game as the referee intervened to control the crowd. The tension on the field was palpable as Galatasaray’s UEFA hopes were hanging by a thread.
Kaan Ayhan of Galatasaray, frustrated by the delay, confronted Young Boys’ coach Patrick Rahmen, accusing the team of intentionally slowing down the game.
This confrontation quickly escalated when Darian Males of Young Boys pushed Ayhan, triggering a brief but intense on-field fight between the players. The referee, after restoring order, issued yellow cards to both Ayhan and Males, further highlighting the game’s heated nature.
Muslera’s receives red card after tackling Young Boys’ scorer
The match’s climax came in the 87th minute when the Swiss team scored the decisive goal through Alan Virginius. As Virginius celebrated near the Galatasaray fans, Fernando Muslera, the Galatasaray captain, attempted to trip the goal scorer in frustration.
This led to a straight red card for Muslera, leaving Galatasaray with ten men and sealing their fate in the UEFA Champions League.
Muslera’s red card added to the chaos of the night, compounding the impact of the earlier on-field fight. Despite their efforts, Galatasaray was unable to recover, and Young Boys advanced to the next round, ending Galatasaray’s UEFA journey for the season.
Comments on Galatasaray’s UEFA exit after controversial match against Young Boys
In the aftermath, Galatasaray‘s defeat was overshadowed by the on-field fight and the tensions with Young Boys. Coach Okan Buruk expressed his disappointment, acknowledging that the altercations disrupted the team’s focus and performance.
“We had the potential to do better, but the incidents on the field distracted us,” Buruk stated.
As Galatasaray looks ahead to their domestic and UEFA Europa League commitments, the team will need to address the issues that arose during their clash with Young Boys.
