03.03.2026 16:51
Arda Turan's request to play the match against Lech Poznan in the last 16 of the UEFA Conference League in Turkey was rejected by UEFA. The match will be played in Poland.
The Ukrainian team Shakhtar Donetsk, coached by Arda Turan, had its request to play the home match against the Polish team Lech Poznan in the UEFA Conference League Round of 16 at Göztepe Gürsel Aksel Stadium in Izmir rejected by UEFA.
ARDA TURAN WILL PLAY BOTH MATCHES IN POLAND
The governing body of European football, UEFA, rejected the request of Arda Turan and Shakhtar Donetsk. According to the decision, Shakhtar Donetsk will play both matches against the Polish team Lech Poznan in the Conference League Round of 16 on March 12 and March 19 in Poland.
HE WANTED TO PLAY AT GÖZTEPE STADIUM
Due to the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia for the past four years, Shakhtar's coach Arda Turan expressed his desire to play the home match at Göztepe's stadium because the opponent is from the same country.
A POSITIVE RESPONSE CAME FROM THE IZMIR TEAM
Arda Turan, who played for the national team and Galatasaray, and represented our country for years at Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, received a positive response from the Göztepe management and fans, inviting the Ukrainian team to Izmir. Göztepe fans displayed a banner saying, "Our home is your home" for Shakhtar Donetsk during the match against Eyüpspor in the Super League last Saturday.
UEFA REJECTED ARDA TURAN'S REQUEST
However, UEFA, which organizes the Conference League, did not accept the request for a change of stadium and country. The rematch on Thursday, March 19, where Shakhtar Donetsk will be the host, will be played at Henryk Reyman's Stadium in Krakow, Poland.