17.08.2026 22:00
Göztepe and Galatasaray faced each other 53 years ago in the final of a four-team tournament. After a controversial penalty decision in the final minutes of the match, the Istanbul representative refused to accept the trophy. Thereupon, the Izmir team Göztepe had the trophy cut in half in the historic Kemeraltı Bazaar, gave one half to Galatasaray, and put the other half in their own museum.
Two of Turkey's most established football clubs, Göztepe and Galatasaray, faced each other in the final of a four-team football tournament organized in 1973 in honor of former Göztepe player Reşat Selamioğlu. However, more than the result of the match, the incident that took place after the match left its mark on Turkish football history.
HALF OF THE CUP IN GÖZTEPE, THE OTHER HALF IN GALATASARAY In the 86th minute of the match, which was continuing 2-2, Galatasaray was awarded a penalty. The Istanbul representative converted the penalty into a goal and left the field with a 3-2 victory. However, after the match, the administrators and players of both teams agreed that the penalty decision was unjust. Therefore, neither side wanted to claim the cup. Upon this, Göztepe's administrators found an extraordinary solution. The cup was taken to the historic Kemeraltı Bazaar and cut in two. Thus, one half of the cup was given to Galatasaray, while the other half remained with Göztepe.
After this rare incident of that period, the half of the cup that fell to Göztepe is exhibited today at the Göztepe Museum in Gürsel Aksel Stadium. Göztepe Museum Director Adil Artuner told İhlas News Agency (İHA) about this unforgettable event that went down in Turkish football history.
''A GENTLEMANLY ATTITUDE WAS SHOWN'' Stating that the teams did not want to claim the cup alone after the historic final match played in 1973, Göztepe Museum Director Adil Artuner said, "On August 23, 1973, at İzmir Atatürk Stadium, in the final of the four-team tournament organized in honor of our esteemed elder Reşat Selamioğlu, Göztepe and Galatasaray faced each other. While the match was tied 2-2, Galatasaray's Tuncay converted the controversial penalty decision given in the 86th minute into a goal, and the match ended 3-2. However, the administrators and players of both clubs agreed that this decision was unjust. Due to the respect for Reşat Selamioğlu, an honorable figure who served as the chairman of the board for many years and played football for our club, the teams did not want to claim the cup alone under these circumstances" he said.
Artuner, who recounted that the cup was divided into two following this gentlemanly attitude, stated, "After this gentlemanly stance, a rare solution was produced. The administrators of that period took the cup to the Kemeraltı Bazaar and had it cut exactly in half. One half of the cup was given to Galatasaray, while the other half was brought to our club" he said.