Turkish football match produces unique display of fair play

ISTANBUL

Referee Hüseyin Altıntaş attempts to calm Erzurum Büyükşehir Belediyespor officials following Dardanelspor's accidental second goal. Dardanelspor eventually won 4-3. DHA Photo

Fourth division Turkish side Çanakkale Dardanelspor demonstrated an unprecedented example of fair play yesterday by deliberately putting through their own goal after accidentally scoring themselves when trying to return the ball to their opponents following an injury.
 
With Dardanelspor leading Erzurum Büyükşehir Belediyespor 1-0 late in the first half, Dardanelspor player Taner Çekiç went to ground, prompting a player from Erzurum to kick into touch so that his opponent could receive treatment, CNNTürk reported.
 
After the treatment was completed, Dardanelspor attempted to return the ball to Erzurum, but İlhan Faruk's lob toward the Erzurum goal eluded keeper Metin Kanar, crossing the goal line.
 
Match referee Hüseyin Altıntaş allowed the goal to stand, prompting reactions from both sets of players.
 
Following the goal, Dardanelspor’s trainer ordered his players to let Erzurum to score in the interests of fair play. The team’s players, however, defended their box, causing Erzurum to send the ball out for a goal kick and prompting a heated exchange along the touch line.
 
From the goal kick, Dardanelspor keeper Volkan Tercan attempted to give the ball to Erzurum so that they could get a goal back, but the match official ruled out the eastern side’s first attempt, reportedly because the players had not vacated the penalty box as the kick was taken.
 
On the second attempt, Volkan passed to teammate Fatih Şahin outside the box, who then put through his own goal to cancel out the mistaken earlier goal.
 
Dardanelspor ultimately prevailed 4-3.