Galatasaray hit with bans on players, coach

ISTANBUL

Defending champion Galatasaray will see its three players, head coach and assistant coach suspended when it travels to Kayserispor for a Spor Toto Super League game on Nov. 10.

Following a brawl at the end of a derby game against Fenerbahçe on Nov. 2, the Turkish Football Federation’s (TFF) Professional Football Disciplinary Committee (PFDK) handed down heavy punishments to Galatasaray’s squad members on Nov. 8.

Coach Fatih Terim was suspended for seven games and given a fine of 65,000 Turkish Liras ($11,770) for his criticism of the referees and “unsportsmanlike remarks” after the game.

Assistant coach Hasan Şaş was suspended for eight games for “attacking an opponent player.”

Galatasaray players were also on the PFDK suspensions list: Ryan Donk for six games, Badou Ndiaye for five games and Garry Rodrigues for three games.

Two Fenerbahçe players were also given suspensions for their role in the post-game brawl: Jailson for eight games for attacking Galatasaray midfielder Younes Belhanda, and Roberto Soldado for six games.

The suspension will put further pressure on Galatasaray, which has been winless in the last three league games, drawing two, while struggling with injuries.

The defending champion has lost the leader’s post to city rival Başakşehir and sits four points behind in the second spot.

The leader, which has lost only once in 11 games, travels to Rizespor of the relegation zone on Nov. 10.

Also on Nov. 10, Bursaspor hosts Kasımpaşa, Ankaragücü visits Konyaspor and cellar-dweller Erzurumspor takes on Göztepe at home.

Two Istanbul clubs that played their Europa League games on Nov. 8 will be on the pitch for their league games on Nov. 11.

Fenerbahçe, which beat Anderlecht 2-0 at home in Group D, will try to get its league campaign back on track when it hosts Alanyaspor.

Beşiktaş, after being held to a 1-1 draw at Genk with a late goal in a Group I match, entertains Sivasspor at home.

Turkish Cup holder Akhisarspor, which again failed to grab its maiden points on the European stage in its debut season after losing 3-12 at home to Sevilla, will need a victory at high-flying Antalyaspor to get out of the relegation zone.

Also on Nov. 11, Bursaspor wants to extend its four-game unbeaten streak when it hosts fourth-placed Kasımpaşa.