Galatasaray goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who has guarded the club’s goal for 14 years, faced intense criticism from fans during the UEFA Europa League match against Dynamo Kyiv.
Despite the team’s unbeaten streak continuing in the competition, a 3-3 draw frustrated fans as Galatasaray missed the chance to secure direct qualification to the Round of 16.
Galatasaray allows comeback in critical UEFA Europa League match
On Jan. 21, Galatasaray hosted Dynamo Kyiv at RAMS Park. The team had established a strong 3-1 lead, but Kyiv managed to equalize late in the game with their only three shots on target.
This result left Galatasaray’s top-eight qualification hopes uncertain, pending the outcome of the group stage’s final matches. Dynamo Kyiv, who had lost their first six games, secured their first points of the season in this surprising turn of events.
Fans whistle, criticize Fernando Muslera after conceding goals
Sections of Galatasaray supporters turned their frustration toward Muslera after Dynamo Kyiv’s equalizer.
Whenever the goalkeeper touched the ball, fans whistled and expressed their anger. Muslera, who has already announced that he will leave Galatasaray at the end of this season, looked visibly affected by the crowd’s reaction.
At the end of the match, Muslera gestured to head coach Okan Buruk with a motion widely interpreted as “it’s over” and quickly left for the locker room.
According to TRT Spor, the ultras group ultrAslan called out to Muslera in a show of support after the game, but the 38-year-old goalkeeper did not return to acknowledge them.
Okan Buruk defends Fernando Muslera, asks fans to show more support
Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk addressed the situation in his post-match statements, standing firmly behind his experienced goalkeeper.
“Muslera is an emotional person who feels the impact of such things. He has served us in incredible ways, achieving great things here. Our current unbeaten run in the league is largely thanks to him,” said Buruk.
Buruk urged the fans to appreciate Muslera’s contributions and avoid overreacting to mistakes. “Let’s not waste such an important figure in our club’s history over minor incidents. We will continue with him,” he added.
Social media reactions and fan divisions over treatment of Muslera
Muslera’s post-match actions and the fan criticism generated significant discussion on social media. Many users debated whether the fans’ treatment of the player was justified. Some sided with the critics, while others defended Muslera, citing his years of commitment to the club.
In the stadium, the division was also clear. ultrAslan criticized fans who booed Muslera and reminded them of his long-standing service to Galatasaray. The group firmly opposed the negative reactions, stressing that a single match should not overshadow the player’s history with the club.
Comments are closed.