One arrested after Beşiktaş fan assault

ISTANBUL

Beşiktaş chairman Orman says the club will not cover the incident up. AA photo

Police have arrested a man on charges of assaulting a group of fans at İnönü Stadium during a Spor Toto Super League match last week in incidents that have forced the resignation of Beşiktaş board member Tamer Kıran.

Three men beat a group of Beşiktaş fans with iron rods at the İnönü Stadium during the game against Orduspor on April 27.

Kıran announced his resignation from the board in a statement admitting that the three assailants entered the stadium on his guest list, but denied having any involvement in the attacks.

“It is true that the alleged assailant entered the stadium as my guest,” he said. “But the claims that I was involved in this damning incident are untrue.”

After Beşiktaş’s 2-0 win, a group of fans started protesting against the team’s coach, Samet Aybaba, after which three men from the VIP stands went down to the lower seats to attack the fans with sticks.
 
Meanwhile, Beşiktaş Chairman Fikret Orman rejected the claims that the attack was organized by the board. “It is impossible to defend, and we are not in position to defend them,” Orman said yesterday.

“This is not an organized attack, it is just an accident. We will continue our legal battle against events like this. We have no intention of covering this up; we will follow it through.”