Abdullah Avcı

Turkish football was plunged into further crisis on Dec. 19 night after Istanbulspor walked off the pitch in protest at a refereeing decision in its Süper Lig game against Trabzonspor, on the day the league resumed following a one-week suspension after a club president punched a referee.

Trabzonspor travels to Copenhagen for a Champions League qualification playoff round first leg game, hoping to get an advantageous score to advance to the group stage of the top European club competition.

Defending champions Trabzonspor will take on newcomer Istanbulspor in an away game on Aug. 5 in the opening game of the new Süper Lig season.

Trabzonspor won its first league title in almost 30 years in May and the Black Sea side's supporters were happy to see their team adding the Turkish Super Cup to its museum last week.

Turkish Süper Lig leader Trabzonspor inched towards its first title in almost three decades despite a 1-1 draw at home against defending champion Beşiktaş on April 3.

"We will be the champions, we should just wait for it to be official," Trabzonspor coach Abdullah Avcı said after the game.

Turkish Süper Lig leader Trabzonspor will be out to extend its stay atop the standings when it visits Alanyaspor on Feb. 20 for a Week 26 game.

The Black Sea side leads the league by 12 points ahead of second-placed Konyaspor thanks to a 1-0 win last weekend over its closest rival in a season usual title chasers are far from their glory days.

Week 23 action in the Turkish Süper Lig pits Galatasaray against Trabzonspor on Jan. 23, with both sides needing a victory, but for very different reasons.

The away side, Trabzonspor, leads the league nine points ahead of its closest rival, sitting in a comfortable spot to aim for its first league title in almost 30 years.

Turkish Süper Lig leader Trabzonspor extended its points difference with the closest rival to 10 points after Week 14 games, bolstering its fans' hopes that the 28-year longing for the league trophy will be over this season.

Turkish Süper Lig action returns this weekend following an international break, with the top two teams clashing in Week 9's highlight match.

Leader Fenerbahçe visits second-placed Trabzonspor on Oct. 17 in a match that will have a major impact on the title race.

Trabzonspor beat Giresunspor 1-0 on Aug. 29 in a Turkish Süper Lig away match to move atop the league standings.

Anthony Nwakaeme scored the winner in the seventh minute to give the Black Sea side its third victory in as many games.

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Beşiktaş football club on April 15 was ordered to pay 17.3 million Turkish liras ($2.1 million) for their former manager Abdullah Avcı as compensation for the termination of his contract.