Turkish derby postponed over attack intel to be played on April 13

ISTANBUL

A derby match between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, which was scheduled to be played on March 20 but canceled due to security concerns over a possible terror attack, has been rescheduled to April 13.

On March 20, the Istanbul Governor’s Office first announced that the match would be played without supporters due to the March 19 suicide attack in Istanbul and concerns over a possible terror threat, leading officials to remove from Galatasaray’s Türk Telekom Arena the supporters who had already arrived for the match.

However after the statement, Galatasaray demanded that the game be postponed.

Security measures were taken, while a police helicopter hovered around the stadium on March 20.

On March 19 five people were killed and 39 were injured in a suicide attack on Istanbul’s İstiklal Avenue committed by Mehmet Öztürk of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), according to Interior Minister Efkan Ala.