Monday, 24 February 2014

Galatasaray fans fight in the street with rivals Besiktas as tensions mount just days before Chelsea's Champions League visit

Galatasaray and Besiktas fans clashed in the streets of Istanbul ahead of Saturday's derby match, with chairs and punches being thrown in running battles.
The violence came just days before Chelsea are set to play Galatasaray in the last 16 of the Champions League, with travelling fans advised by their club to exercise caution while in the Turkish city.
A video posted on YouTube sees mobs of Galatasaray and Besiktas hooligans fighting in a busy shopping street just before the match at the Turk Telekom Arena.
Mob-handed: A group of Besiktas fans advance down a busy Istanbul street, throwing punches at rival Galatasaray supporters in the run-up to Saturday night's derby at the Turk Telekom Arena
Mob-handed: A group of Besiktas fans advance down a busy Istanbul street, throwing punches at rival Galatasaray supporters in the run-up to Saturday night's derby at the Turk Telekom Arena

Cornered: The Galatasaray fans are forced to take cover inside a shop as the mob outside pick up objects such as plastic chairs to throw at them
Cornered: The Galatasaray fans are forced to take cover inside a shop as the mob outside pick up objects such as plastic chairs to throw at them

Throw in: One supporter picks up a white plastic chair and hurls it into the shop
Throw in: One supporter picks up a white plastic chair and hurls it into the shop
Rampage: The attack continues before police officers step in and restore order
Rampage: The attack continues before police officers step in and restore order


One group is pinned inside a cafe, with rival fans hurling plastic chairs at them before police officers eventually restored order.
Besiktas supporters can be seen goading their rivals further down the street after the attack.
The trouble continued during the match, which Galatasaray won 1-0.
When their midfielder Felipe Melo was sent off for a rash two-footed tackle in the closing stages, furious Besiktas fans invaded the pitch and clashed with riot police.

A penalty from Selcuk Inan after 38 minutes decided the match, with Galatasaray leapfrogging their rivals into second place in the Super Lig, three points behind leaders Fenerbahce.
Flashpoint: Besiktas fans tried to invade the pitch after Galatasaray's Felipe Melo was sent off for a rash two-footed tackle. Gala went on to win the match 1-0, moving up to second in the Super Lig table
Flashpoint: Besiktas fans tried to invade the pitch after Galatasaray's Felipe Melo was sent off for a rash two-footed tackle. Gala went on to win the match 1-0, moving up to second in the Super Lig table

Winner: Galatasaray won the derby thanks to a first half penalty by Selcuk Inan
Winner: Galatasaray won the derby thanks to a first half penalty by Selcuk Inan

In their last meeting back in September, the players had to run back to the dressing rooms after fans invaded the pitch when Melo was again sent off.
Melo was struck by a bottle as he walked off the field and police had to use tear gas to disperse the crowds. 
Chelsea have issued advice to their fans planning to travel to the first leg tie on Wednesday night, saying it is not safe to use to Metro to reach the stadium and to use the special coaches laid on instead.

Attacked: A steward is beaten with a plastic chair after Besiktas fans invaded the pitch during the previous meeting with Galatasaray back in September
Attacked: A steward is beaten with a plastic chair after Besiktas fans invaded the pitch during the previous meeting with Galatasaray back in September

Carnage: Riot police used tear gas to clear the pitch and came under attack from chair-wielding hooligans
Carnage: Riot police used tear gas to clear the pitch and came under attack from chair-wielding hooligans

Dismissed: The riot followed the sending off of Galatasaray midfielder Felipe Melo towards the end of the game
Dismissed: The riot followed the sending off of Galatasaray midfielder Felipe Melo towards the end of the game

There is a history of violence involving Turkish and English fans in the city. Prior to a 2000 UEFA Cup semi-final two Leeds United fans, Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, were stabbed to death.
In 1993, more than 200 Manchester United fans were arrested and many more denied entry to the stadium before a Champions League tie at Galatasaray's old stadium, the Ali Sami Yen.
United were greeted by Galatasaray fans waving 'Welcome to Hell' banners when they arrived in the City for the match and Eric Cantona was hit by a police officer after he was sent off.
Trouble: Violence erupted prior to the 2000 UEFA Cup semi-final between Galatasaray and Leeds United, with two English fans stabbed to death in the street
Trouble: Violence erupted prior to the 2000 UEFA Cup semi-final between Galatasaray and Leeds United, with two English fans stabbed to death in the street

Security: Leeds United fans were escorted by heavily-armed police to the Ali Sami Yen Stadium for the match
Security: Leeds United fans were escorted by heavily-armed police to the Ali Sami Yen Stadium for the match

Tributes: Flowers left at the statue of Billy Bremner outside Elland Road following the stabbings of Leeds fans Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight in Istanbul
Tributes: Flowers left at the statue of Billy Bremner outside Elland Road following the stabbings of Leeds fans Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight in Istanbul

Welcome to Hell: The infamous banner Galatasaray fans used to greet Manchester United in 1993
Welcome to Hell: The infamous banner Galatasaray fans used to greet Manchester United in 1993

All fired up: The Galatasaray supporters celebrate their victory over United 21 years ago
All fired up: The Galatasaray supporters celebrate their victory over United 21 years ago

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