Crowd trouble mars Fener-Beşiktaş derby
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Police intervene and use pepper spray to separate the fans of Fenerbahçe (R) and Beşiktaş during the two teams’ event-filled derby in the Spor Toto Super League. AA photo
Fenerbahçe beat Beşiktaş in the big game of Spor Toto Super League match day 25, but the game was overshadowed by crowd troubles in and outside the stadium.The Yellow Canaries beat Beşiktaş 2-0 on Feb. 5 with goals from Nigeria’s Joseph Yobo and Senegalese Moussa Sow to gain a serious edge over their archrivals. Fenerbahçe has 51 points to trail leader Galatasaray by three points. Beşiktaş remained third with 45 points.
However, the game was marred by crowd trouble and harsh police response.
During the game’s halftime break at Istanbul’s Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, the fences between home fans and the Beşiktaş crowd broke, leaving the two rival sides face to face. Police immediately rushed to keep the two sides apart and used pepper gas to disperse the Beşiktaş crowd. Some Beşiktaş fans used fire extinguishers in the stadium in a counterattack, spraying police with the contents.
Fenerbahçe released a statement on its website listing of stadium facilities damaged by Beşiktaş fans, including seats, doors, toilet taps, lightning and air-conditioning equipment.
The troubles continued after the game, with some fans breaking the windows of a Metrobus carrying Fenerbahçe fans and throwing a gas bomb inside the vehicle. Those moments were captured by a Fenerbahçe fan and the video was viewed by thousands on the Internet.
According to a decision by the Turkish Football Federation at the beginning of the season, no away team fans would be allowed to attend the stadiums during the games between Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray and Trabzonspor, “the big four” in Turkish football.
However, Beşiktaş fans were allowed to attend the Feb. 5 game, since Fenerbahçe fans broke the rule by entering the stadium during this seasons’ first match played between the two teams.
Both teams are likely to be hit with fines and bans, forcing them to play behind closed doors, due to the trouble and profane chants, according to a report by the daily Sabah.
