Fenerbahçe captain attacked on ferry

Fenerbahçe captain attacked on ferry

ISTANBUL

HÜRRİYET Photo

Fenerbahçe captain Emre Belözoğlu has been attacked by a group of Beşiktaş supporters on an interprovincial ferry.

Belözoğlu was heading to the Mudanya district of Bursa May 14 for an opening ceremony on the same ferry with Beşiktaş supporters who were bound for the Akhisar district of Manisa for the upcoming match.

However, a scuffle erupted after Beşiktaş supporters verbally attacked Belözoğlu. The incident reportedly intensified when Belözoğlu responded.

In addition, Orhan Ak, a Başakşehirspor player who was with Belözoğlu, allegedly drew a gun, leading the Beşiktaş supporters to disperse.

 “They surrounded me on the ferry and swore. So, I climbed down and fought with them. I made a complaint against the assailants. Right now, I am testifying at a police station in Eskihisar,” Belözoğlu said, speaking to Hürriyet after the incident.

Ak, meanwhile, has refuted claims that he pulled a gun on the assailants, adding if other passengers had not intervened, the assailants would have thrown them into the sea.

Recently, the Fenerbahçe team bus came under fire late April 4 in Trabzon’s Araklı district, leaving serious facial injuries to the vehicle’s driver, Ufuk Kıran, as the club was making its way toward Trabzon’s airport following a 5-1 Spor Toto Super League victory at nearby Çaykur Rizespor.

Kıran was struck by glass caused by bullets hitting the bus’ windows, resulting in him losing control of the vehicle while proceeding along a viaduct. Serdal Kılıç, a team security official sitting next to Kıran, managed to press the brakes to prevent the bus from careening over the edge of the bridge.

As a result, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) decided to suspend all first-tier Spor Toto Super League games, along with the Ziraat Turkey Cup match-ups, for one week on April 6 following the attack.