Fenerbahçe fans send flares into stadium despite UEFA ban

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

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Fenerbahçe fans threw flares into their team’s stadium during yesterday's Europa League second-leg tie against Belarusian champion BATE Borisov even though the game was being played behind closed doors to a previous UEFA ban.
 
Five people were detained on suspicion of launching the flares into the ground. Fenerbahçe fans had gathered outside the Şükrü Saraçoğlu Stadium in Kadıköy to support their team despite not being allowed to enter the stadium.

"Those who sent these flares must be idiots,” said UEFA observer Stefano Farina, adding that the incendiary devices resulted in the burning of the Turkish flag and a fine against the team.

Despite the incidents and the lack of crowd support, the Yellow Canaries managed to see off the Belarusian challenge with a 1-0 victory, giving them a 1-0 aggregate victory.
 
Fenerbahçe will play the Czech Republic’s Viktoria Plzen in the Round of 16.