Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk used his press conference to criticise UEFA ahead of his side’s clashes with Liverpool – with their fans banned from Anfield.
Buruk will hope to utilise home advantage when Galatasaray host Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday evening.
That comes with the Turkish side aware that, as it stands, they will have no away fans for next week’s Anfield decider after violent scenes around their playoff clash at Juventus.
Galatasaray also know that they have seven players at risk of suspension, with a yellow card in the home leg ruling them out of the trip to Liverpool.
Galatasaray Suspension Risks vs. Liverpool
Player Position Starts (All Comps)
Ugurcan Cakir Goalkeeper 29
Davinson Sanchez Centre-Back 34
Abdulkerim Bardakci Centre-Back 36
Ismail Jakobs Left-Back 18
Roland Sallai Right Winger 31
Victor Osimhen Striker 23
Noa Lang Winger 6*
* Noa Lang joined on loan in January. All players listed will be suspended for the second leg at Anfield if they receive a yellow card tonight. Data verified for March 10, 2026.
That includes Buruk’s entire first-choice back four and goalkeeper, along with leading goalscorer Victor Osimhen and January signing Noa Lang.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - Tuesday, September 30, 2025: Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate challenges Galatasaray's Victor Osimhen during the UEFA Champions League match between Galatasaray and Liverpool FC at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
And speaking to reporters in his pre-match press conference, Buruk criticised UEFA and urged a change to the rules which currently see players who pick up three yellow cards between the league phase and the semi-finals suspended for one match.
“UEFA absolutely needs to change this after the number of matches increases. Seven of our players are on the verge of suspension,” he told reporters per Liverpool.com.
“The most difficult part for us is that four of our most frequently playing players in the same position in defence, our goalkeeper and two attackers are on the verge.
“While playing this match in the best way possible, we will also do our best to avoid getting cards unnecessarily.”
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - Tuesday, September 30, 2025: Galatasaray supporters get very excited as the names of the players are read out during the UEFA Champions League match between Galatasaray A.?. and Liverpool FC at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium. Galatasaray won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Buruk also confirmed Galatasaray have appealed the sanctions imposed by UEFA for charges of throwing of objects, lighting of fireworks and crowd disturbances during their playoff second leg at Juventus last month.
“I don’t find it fair either. It’s not fair to look at it just from the fans’ perspective,” he argued.
“How the police behave there is also very important.”
What did Galatasaray fans do to earn Anfield ban?
According to leading Italian news agency ANSA, the incidents involved around 400 Galatasaray ultras who damaged shuttles on their way to the ground and attempted to clash with home fans outside the stadium.
It is claimed that close to 50 supporters broke into the stadium having being refused a name change on their tickets before being ejected by authorities.
A firework was launched into the home crowd and left a father and daughter injured and needing treatment at hospital, with the perpetrator apprehended post-match.