Demba Ba

Romanian referee Sebastian Coltescu has apologized over a racial term he used when identifying a Black assistant coach of Istanbul team Başakşehir in a game last week over a phone call with Senagelese striker Demba Ba.

Achille Webo (C), player of Basaksehir reacts during the UEFA Champions League group H soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Istanbul Basaksehir in Paris, France, 08 December 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/IAN LANGSDON

Defending champion Galatasaray's eight-game winning streak in the Turkish Süper Lig ended on March 8 night with a 2-2 draw at title hopeful Sivasspor.

The home side's Hakan Arslan scored the opening goal in the seventh minute, while Galatasaray responded with Colombian striker Radamel Falcao in the 14th minute and Algerian right winger Sofiane Feghouli in the 37th.

Defending Turkish Süper Lig champion Galatasaray has moved a step closer to the top spot in the standings with a 3-0 win over city neighbor Kasımpaşa in a Week 21 game.

Adem Büyük scored a double for the visiting side in the 22nd and 41st minutes in the game on Feb. 9.

Having won its fifth league game in a row, Galatasaray climbed up to the fifth spot with 39 points.

China's football authority said on Aug. 6 it was investigating reports that Senegalese striker Demba Ba was subjected to racial slurs by an opposing Chinese player during a weekend match, vowing "stern punishment" if the incident proved true.

Turkish Super League's second-spot Medipol Başakşehir, the dark horse of the season, handed defending champion Beşiktaş a major wound, if not vital, beating the leader 3-1 late on April 30.

The home side began the game at a fast pace and took an early 3-0 lead with back-to-back goals from 19-year-old Cengiz Ünder and Emmanuel Adebayor in the first 18 minutes.

A well-motivated Turkish Spor Toto Super League leader Beşiktaş will take on archrival Fenerbahçe on Feb. 5 in a Ziraat Turkey Cup last 16 stage "do or die" game. 

Beşiktaş, which climbed to the top of the standings on matchday 18, put five goals past a strong Konyaspor on Jan. 30 to maintain a two-point cushion over Medipol Başakşehir.

Senegal's ex-Newcastle and Chelsea striker Demba Ba on Jan. 31 rejoined his former Turkish club Beşiktaş until the end of the season from Shanghai Shenhua of China.

Beşiktaş said in a statement that the deal agreed with the player and Chinese club was a "temporary transfer" and adding no payment was involved.

Fiorentina?s German international Mario Gomez has become the latest world star to set up shop in the Turkish Super League after signing a two-year loan deal with Istanbul?s Be?ikta?.

The German international?s arrival follows that of other well-known players in the league, including Ricardo Quaresma, Robin Van Persie, Nani, Lukas Podolski and Sameul Eto?o.

Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua have revealed that they will sign former Be?ikta? striker Demba Ba.

The Chinese side officially announced June 27 an agreement with the Turkish Spor Toto Super League team about the Senegalese hitman?s transfer.