Fenerbahçe’s supporter group head detained together with two other fans

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

The head of Fenerbahçe’s leading supporter group, Genç Fenerbahçeliler (GFB), has been arrested. DHA photo

The head of Fenerbahçe’s leading supporter group, Genç Fenerbahçeliler (GFB), is among three people to be arrested as part of an operation against alleged criminal syndicates in some football supporters’ groups.

The three, including GFB leader Sefa Kalya, were arrested today after being questioned at an Istanbul courthouse, while 23 fans were released on parole. Some 36 detainees were released without any stipulations.

Kalya and the other two fans were arrested on charges of establishing and running a criminal syndicate, intentional injury and solicitation to murder.

Alen Markaryan, the former head of Beşiktaş’s supporter group, çArşı, was among the 23 people to be released parole, which includes a ban on leaving the country.

Istanbul’s Organized Crime Department conducted an operation in Istanbul on Sept. 27, detaining 89 members of the main football supporter groups, çArşı, GFB and Galatasaray’s ultrAslan, while simultaneous raids were conducted in İzmir, Mersin and Kocaeli. Some 27 detainees were later released following a call by the public prosecutor. Sixty-two fans, who had been in detention at Istanbul’s Organized Crime Department since Sept. 27, were sent to the Istanbul Courthouse on Sept. 30.

Meanwhile, 11 fans who were allegedly part of a group that invaded the pitch during a Beşiktaş-Galatasaray derby on Sept. 22, were detained late on Sept. 30, Doğan News Agency reported on its website. Two out of the 11 detainees were sent to court, while the rest were released.