Fenerbahçe set to claim Turkish title in front of women, children

ISTANBUL

Fenerbahçe is the runaway leaders since the early stages of the season and is set to clinch its 19th championship.

Fenerbahçe has its sights set on claiming its 19th Spor Toto Super League title on April 27 against Çaykur Rizespor, requiring just a draw against the Black Sea outfit to guarantee itself the trophy.

The Yellow Canaries, the runaway leaders since the early stages of the season, need just one point to attain an unassailable lead over second-place Beşiktaş with just four matches left.

However, not everyone will be able to watch the Yellow Canaries’ possible crowning, as the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) handed the club a one-match suspension earlier this month. According to the regulations, no adult men will be permitted to attend the match, meaning only women and children will be allowed through the turnstiles. Fener’s demand to postpone the suspension was rejected.

Beşiktaş support

On April 25, Beşiktaş took an unexpected step, calling on the TFF to reconsider the situation.

“Since football is love, friendship and fraternity, since it is celebration, we call on the Turkish Football Federation to postpone the suspension for the fans who wish to enjoy the championship  ecstasy, or find another formula in the regulations,” the club said in a statement.

Beşiktaş, the only team that has at least a mathematical chance of overtaking Fenerbahçe at the top with 55 points, visits fifth-place Sivasspor, which has 46 points and is chasing a Europa League qualifying spot.

There is extra incentive for finishing second this year as Fenerbahçe will be serving the second of a two-year ban on European competition, meaning that the second-place finisher in Turkey will qualify directly for the group stage of the 2014-15 Champions League.

Galatasaray, which lost its hold on second spot with two consecutive defeats, dropping to third with 53 points, faces Elazığspor.

In other action, Kasımpaşa hosts Antalyaspor, Eskişehirspor meets Kayseri Erciyesspor, Torku Konyaspor plays Akhisar and Kayserispor welcomes Karabükspor. All games start at 7 p.m. on April 27.  In the only game on April 26, Trabzonspor meets Gaziantep.