Olympic Lyon warns fans over security threat in Europa game against Istanbul’s Beşiktaş

LYON

French football club Olympic Lyon has warned its supporters about security over a Europa League round of 16 second leg game against Turkey’s Beşiktaş in Istanbul on April 20, citing a terror attack near the stadium in December 2016, according to Radio Scoop. 

The club called on fans not to go to the game at Beşiktaş Vodafone Arena as organized groups. 

Both France and Turkey have suffered terror attacks near stadiums. 

A total of 46 people, including 38 police officers, were killed and 164 people were wounded in a twin bomb attack near Beşiktaş’s home pitch on Dec. 10, 2016.

Outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) claimed responsibility for the attack, which came after a league game against Bursaspor. 

On Nov. 13, 2015, Paris saw a series of coordinated terrorist attacks. Three suicide bombers struck outside the Stade de France in Saint-Denis during a friendly game between Les Bleus and Germany as gunmen carried out another mass shooting and took hostages during a concert at the Bataclan theater. 

Beşiktaş will visit Lyon on April 13 before the Istanbul game on April 20. 

Istanbul’s Black Eagles knocked out Greek giants Olympiacos in the previous round, with visiting teams’ fans not appearing in the away games due to security measures agreed on by both sides.

However, that ban came as a preemptive measure against any possible fan violence. 

Despite the ban, some 100 Beşiktaş fans made it to the first the game on March 9.