20.10.2026 09:30
Galatasaray, who applied to UEFA for the postponement of the Lille match due to the events in France, received a negative response. Eray Yazgan, a board member of the red-yellow club, stated that UEFA has no intention of postponing the match or playing it without spectators. Despite the curfew declared in France, the match is expected to be played as planned.
Security concerns in France remain on the agenda ahead of Galatasaray's away match against Lille in the third week of the UEFA Champions League. Following the incidents in the country and the curfew decisions taken, the yellow-red management applied to UEFA for the postponement of the match. However, European football's governing body did not deem it necessary to postpone the match under current conditions.
GALATASARAY APPLIES TO UEFA FOR POSTPONEMENT
Galatasaray Board Member Eray Yazgan announced that the club is closely following developments in France and that diplomatic contacts have been ongoing since Saturday.
In his statement, Yazgan said:
“We have been in contact with the Embassy since Saturday. They wrote to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and we wrote to UEFA for the necessary measures to be taken. However, when a curfew was decided this evening (Monday) for those under 18 and in certain areas between 20:00 and 06:00, we contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the opposing club president, and UEFA, and, as required by our responsibility, applied to UEFA for the postponement of the match.”
LILLE DID NOT WANT POSTPONEMENT EITHER
Despite Galatasaray's initiatives, no agreement could be reached on postponing the match. Eray Yazgan stated that, in line with the approach of the French Ministry of the Interior, Lille also did not want the match to be postponed.
“UEFA HAS NO INTENTION TO POSTPONE”
Stating that UEFA favors the match being played as planned under current conditions, Yazgan said:
“Under current conditions, UEFA has no idea of playing without spectators or postponing. Therefore, unless there is another development by Wednesday, the match will be played with spectators at the same place and time.”
Yazgan also stated that they made a new request through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that Galatasaray fans would not suffer any inconvenience. The yellow-red executive announced that they requested that the curfew for those under 18 not be applied to fans coming to the match.
FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER ALSO MADE A STATEMENT
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez also announced that European cup matches planned to be played in the country would not be postponed. In his statement regarding the PSG-Barcelona and Lille-Galatasaray matches, Nunez said, “Cancellation of the matches is out of the question. The matches will continue to be played.”
CURFEW IN LILLE
Following the incidents in France, security measures were also increased in Lille. It was reported that a curfew was declared in the city from 21.00 Turkish time on Monday until 07.00 on Tuesday. Additional restrictions for certain areas and for those under 18 were also brought to the agenda.
WHEN IS THE GALATASARAY-LILLE MATCH?
Galatasaray will visit Lille on Wednesday at 19.45 Turkish time in the third week of the UEFA Champions League. If no new security decision is taken, the match will be played at the planned time and with spectators.