KONYA: Turkish Süper Lig side Konyaspor and the Palestine national football team played out a 2-2 draw in a solidarity friendly on Wednesday, with the match ending at 89 minutes and 59 seconds following an announcement that it had been “postponed until Palestine is free.”
Thousands of supporters packed Konya Metropolitan Municipality Stadium for the match, held under the slogan “Our home is your home,” turning the fixture into a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people and Gaza.
Konyaspor took the lead in the second minute through Melih Ibrahimoğlu, but Palestine responded through Mohammed Hasn Rajab Sandouqa, who scored in the 12th and 25th minutes to put the visitors ahead.
Mustafa Muhammed restored parity for the Turkish side in the 28th minute, with neither team finding a winner before the score was brought to 2-2.
Before kick-off, Konyaspor supporters unveiled a stadium-wide display bearing the message: “You stay silent when children sleep, not when they die.”
Other banners and messages highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and expressed support for Palestinians.
In a symbolic tribute, the stadium lights were switched off at 10 minutes and 14 seconds, commemorating 1,014 members of the Palestinian sports community reportedly killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, 2023. Confetti and toys were also thrown onto the pitch as part of the tribute.
The match concluded in an unusual manner at 89:59, when an announcement declared it “postponed until Palestine is free,” underscoring the event’s message of solidarity.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan praised the fixture, describing it as a powerful demonstration of the bonds between Türkiye and Palestine.
In a social media post, Erdoğan thanked the supporters who filled the 42,000-capacity stadium, saying the event reflected the “brotherhood, solidarity and unity of hearts” between the two peoples.
He also said the match between Konyaspor club and palestinian team had drawn international attention to the suffering in Gaza and reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to supporting Palestinian rights on international platforms.
Erdoğan extended his greetings to the Palestinian players who traveled to Türkiye for the match, as well as to the Palestinian people.
Following the game, Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak, Konya Governor Ibrahim Akın, Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Uğur Ibrahim Altay and other officials presented flowers to members of the Palestinian national team.
