You may be surprised to read that Fenerbahce are currently sitting in the Super Lig relegation zone after suffering what can only be described as a disastrous 3-0 defeat to 13th place Akhisar on Sunday night.
The famous Sarı Lacivertliler, who are one of the biggest clubs in Turkey, have won just three times in 15 games and yesterday's defeat was the last straw for president Ali Koc, who decided to take out his frustration at the club's current league form.
Koç reportedly punished the Fenerbahce squad by cancelling their flight and forcing them to come back to Istanbul by bus.
President Ali Koç decided to punish #Fenerbahçe by cancelling their flight and forcing them to come back to Istanbul by bus.
- Bruno Bottaro (@br1bottaro) December 9, 2018
Well, this excalated quickly.
The trip from Akhisar to Istanbul would usually take an hour by plane, but a bus journey to Turkey's largest city can take almost five hours, according to Google. That means Fenerbache would have arrived in Istanbul at around 11pm.
They have won just one league game in ten, something that has clearly shocked caretaker manager Erwin Koeman:
"I hope that some of my players return soon, because we need them." he said after the game, via Hurriyet Daily News.
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Koeman reiterated the fact that his club need to continue to work hard, despite the dip in form this season.
"We are in dire straits, but I am a fighter. I always see the light at the end of the tunnel. We must continue to work, strive for the club. We are definitely going through terrible times for Fenerbahce but all we can do is to keep working."
Here's some reaction from social media on the punishment.
#Fenerbahçe have returned to Istanbul on the bus as a punishment taken by the club's president Ali Koç, after 3-0 loss to @Akhisarspor in Manisa. #TurkishSuperLig:flag_tr: pic.twitter.com/2U3bBTse2k
- Turkish Super Lig (@FootyTurkish) December 10, 2018
#Fenerbahçe returned to Istanbul on the bus as a punishment taken by the club's president Ali Koç, after 3-0 loss to Akhisarspor.
- Betin (@BetinKenya) December 10, 2018
They are currently in the relegation zone. pic.twitter.com/hDpNuXgh4w
When #AliKoc won the elections to become president of #Fenerbahçe by ending 20 years of Aziz Yildirim administration, a lot people dreamed of a political message out of it hoping Erdogan would face a similar end. Now Fenerbahce is headed for the second division
- Ahmet Hamdi Sisman (@trtbreaking) December 9, 2018
Thoughts on Fenerbahce's situation in the Super Lig? What do they need to do to improve results?
Let us know in the comments.