Police uses tear gas on youth footballers

KÜTAHYA

The benches of İkitellispor, including the coach, also got involved and the mayhem lasted for a while until the children were taken to near-by hospitals to receive treatment. DHA photo

Police officers used tear gas on 14-year-old football players when arguments broke out between players and the referee on the field during the elimination matches of U-14 Turkish Football Championship, Doğan news agency reported.

Bursaspor scored the third goal during extra time, however, İkitellispor players objected to the goal.

The game ended with the referee deciding in favor of Bursa Yolspor, ruling for the Bursa win; however the objections wouldn’t stop coming from the İkitellispor players. Five of the players received red cards but refused to back down. The arguments continued.

Police forces then intervened, coming down to the field, and using tear gas to disperse the players. The benches of İkitellispor, including the coach, also got involved and the mayhem lasted for a while until the children were taken to near-by hospitals to receive treatment.

Club president Abdülselam condemned the actions of the police, saying, “We have filed complaints against the police officers. They went down into the field and used tear gas and police batons on our children.”