Abdullah Kavukcu quits Galatasaray board after Metin Öztürk row

Turkish champions Galatasaray have lost a second board member in quick succession. Abdullah Kavukcu, acting chairman of the club's listed football company Galatasaray Sportif AŞ, announced in a written statement on 1 November 2026 that he was stepping down from the board, according to TRT Spor, Sabah, Habertürk and Sporx. Kavukcu linked his decision to a dispute with vice-president Metin Öztürk after a board meeting on 27 October. Öztürk had already announced his own resignation over the same incident.

Why did Abdullah Kavukcu resign?

Abdullah Kavukcu said he resigned because of the way the dispute had been portrayed in public. In his account, the incident with Metin Öztürk was a verbal argument on both sides that was exaggerated, particularly on social media. Kavukcu said he chose to step aside so that a personal matter would not harm the club's stability, reputation or goals.

Kavukcu added that his commitment to Galatasaray does not depend on any title or position, and that he will keep supporting the club's success after leaving the board.

What did Metin Öztürk say?

The two executives give different accounts. While Kavukcu describes a verbal argument, Metin Öztürk said in his statement, as reported by Sporx, that the 27 October meeting turned into a physical attack and an insult to his late mother, which he said he could not accept. The sources reviewed contain no official statement from Galatasaray on the incident.

Timeline: how the Galatasaray board dispute unfolded

1. 27 October 2026 — An argument breaks out between vice-president Metin Öztürk and Abdullah Kavukcu after a Galatasaray board meeting.
2. Between 27 October and 1 November 2026 — Öztürk announces he is leaving the board, alleging a physical attack and an insult to his late mother.
3. 1 November 2026 — Kavukcu resigns from the board, saying the argument was verbal and exaggerated in public.

How are Galatasaray doing on the pitch?

The boardroom departures come while the team is in strong form. According to ScoreLab data, Galatasaray top the 2026/2027 Süper Lig with 25 points from 10 games, having won 8, drawn 1 and lost 1. The day before the board meeting, on 26 October, they beat rivals Fenerbahçe 2-1, and on 30 October they won 4-0 away at Konyaspor.

What happens next?

It is not yet clear how Galatasaray will fill the two vacant board roles; the sources reviewed contain no announcement from the club. On the pitch, the schedule is busy: Galatasaray host Stuttgart in the Champions League on 3 November 2026 and Amed Sportif in the Süper Lig on 7 November 2026. ScoreLab will update this article as the story develops.