Galatasaray players pull shirts over heads to mock tabloids after Leao goal

On November 7, 2026 Galatasaray beat Amedspor 4-3, and the celebration after the team's opening goal drew attention for another reason: players deliberately pulled their shirts over their heads to mock tabloid footage that had circulated online.

Context and controversy

The goal that triggered the gesture came in the seventh minute, scored by Rafael Leao with an assist from Lucas Torreira. The players’ reaction referenced a recent night‑out video involving teammate Ismail Jakobs, who earlier this week was reported to have gone out after Galatasaray’s 2-0 Champions League win over Stuttgart.

Reports said Jakobs and Lucas Torreira had been seen leaving a nightclub in the Etiler neighbourhood of Istanbul. Social media items claimed the players visited a gay club; clips of the outing began circulating and showed Jakobs pulling his shirt over his head while trying to hide from photographers.

After Leao’s goal, Galatasaray players recreated that moment on the pitch: several team members slipped their shirts over their heads in a show of mockery aimed at the tabloids and the footage that had been shared online. The gesture was widely posted on social platforms.

One widely shared post captured the celebration; the tweet read: "🟡🔴 Rafael Leao'nun golünün ardından Galatasaraylı futbolcuların sevinci! #GSvAMD #beINSPORTS" and was published by beIN SPORTS Türkiye.

The match itself remained tight and entertaining: Galatasaray edged Amedspor 4-3, but much of the post‑match attention focused on the players’ deliberate response to the earlier controversy rather than on the final scoreline.

Photo: press material from the event