Galatasaray's hot-tempered coach receives nine-game ban

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

Galatasaray fans wore Terim masks to support their iconic coach during their team’s Champions League quarterfinal game against Real Madrid on April 9. DHA photo

Hot-blooded Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim's latest outburst has led him to be sanctioned for "anti-sportsmanship behavior" and "insulting the referee" with a record nine-game ban from the Turkish Football Federation's disciplinary committee. With the decision, Terim is set to miss all six games remaining in the season.

Terim, who had already been banned for three games for an altercation with a referee after the winter break, was sent off during Galatasaray's game at home last week against last-place Mersin İdman Yurdu for throwing a ball at the ground and furiously protesting a call. The previous sanction issued to Terim had warned of a longer ban in case of a similar incident.

According to the disciplinary committee's statement, Terim was banned for three games for insulting the referee, three games for insults to the representative of the federation and one game for anti-sportsmanship behavior. He was banned for the other two games for his repeat offenses. 

First top-flight female coach could be on the field

Besides Terim, his two assistants, Hasan Şaş and Ümit Davala, have also received two- and one-game bans respectively. The decision paves the way for Galatasaray's female assistant coach, Duygu Erdoğan, to take charge of the team this weekend against Kardemir Karabük with former Brazilian world champion goalkeeper coach Claudio Taffarel.

Terim brought up the possibility, telling Lig TV reporters that "Erdoğan and Taffarel might be [coaches] at the Karabükspor game," if he and his assistants were banned. If this happens, Erdoğan will be the first female coach to manage a Super League team.