Dursun Özbek

Galatasaray chairman Mustafa Cengiz (file photo)

Galatasaray's board has decided to replace coach Jan Olde Riekerink with Igor Tudor of Croatia, according to media reports.

The reports said the Istanbul club and Tudor, who coached Spor Toto Super League side Karabükspor, agreed on a one-and-a-half year contract.

The Galatasaray administration and technical staff were in hot water on Feb. 13 after the Istanbul club suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Kayserispor, its second loss in three league games.

Larrys Mabiala and Levent Gülen scored one goal each in the first half for the visiting side, with the home side's consolidation goal coming from Eren Derdiyok one minute from the final whistle.  

Turkey's Galatasaray has decided to cancel its sponsorship deal with Dumankaya Construction, after executives of the company were detained as part of a police crackdown on the alleged financial links of the Fethullah Gülen movement. 

The top football authority in Europe, UEFA, has banned Turkey's Galatasaray from continental cups for one year after the Istanbul side failed to fulfill the financial fair play requirements. 

The ban will be valid from the first year that Galatasaray, now 16 points behind leader Fenerbahçe in the Spor Toto Super League, gains the right to join a European cup. 

Defending Spor Toto Super League champion Galatasaray will play its first game under its new coach on Nov. 29 when it makes a short trip to city rival Kas?mpa?aspor.

Mustafa Denizli signed a one-and-a-half year contract with the Istanbul club on Nov. 26 and is ready to lead the troubled team against Kas?mpa?a.

Reactions towards Trabzonspor football club chair ?brahim Hac?osmano?lu, who allegedly held the referees of a match on Oct. 28 hostage for four hours and also caused controversy over his sexist remarks to defend the situation, continue, as the football club head has withdrawn his initial comments regarding a call from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an. 

Galatasaray has been left red-faced and frustrated after the Istanbul club failed to complete the necessary paperwork for the transfer of a coveted defender, missing the chance to include him in the squad before the closure of the winter transfer window. 

Hours after Galatasaray signed Lukas Podolski, its chairman has said the Turkish football giant?s next targets could be Lionel Messi and Neymar to compete with rival Fenerbahçe?s recent signing of Nani and reported agreement in principle with Robin Van Persie.