Hooliganism and fan violence dominate Turkey’s political agenda
Football and hooliganism once again dominates Turkey’s politics, as more than 48 people who have been involved in the incidents that broke out between Turkish police and Fenerbahce fans after the Fenerbahçe Galatasaray derby in Istanbul on May 12 were detained and transferred to court.
Istanbul / NationalTurk – The 48 vandalism suspects had been sent to the Kadıköy courthouse after they had been taken into police custody. They were transferred to court with a demand for their arrest on charges of ‘resisting the police’,’ damaging public property’ and ‘causing public indignation’ in the wake of the Spor Toto Super League match at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium on May 12. The Fenerbahce Galatasaray derby game ended in a goalless draw. Galatasaray won the Turkish league title for a 18th time at the home stadium of its archrival, Fenerbahce.
The aftermath of Fenerbahce Galatasaray derby was nothing like Turkey has ever witnessed before
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan yesterday expressed his strong disapproval of the after match violence and noted fanaticism was what lay behind violence and intolerance in sports.
‘ Personally, I go berserk when I see how ladies curse even in a match that is closed to [male] fans and open to women and children,’ Tayyip Erdoğan stated during his governing party AKP (Justice and Development Party) group meeting at the Turkish Parliament.
The 2011-2012 season is unfortunately remembered for violence, match-fixing scandal and its aftermath, conflict and fighting rather than fair play, courtesy, sportsmanship and tolerance, Tayyip Erdogan added, comparing the incidents in the derby game’s aftermath to terrorism.
Turkish PM : No one dare to put the blame on Fenerbahce fans
‘ Not a single person can dodge their responsibility in this merely by putting the blame on the Fenerbahce spectators’ shoulders,’ stated the Turkish prime minister also a Fenerbahce fan.
Turkish PM Tayyip Erdoğan lashed out at the handing of the championship trophy to Galatasaray in the locker room with the lights of Fenerbahce stadium turned off. ‘ All this business [trophy ceromony] ought to be carried out in the middle of the stadium, with honesty and chivalry. That is what we must see,’ he expressed.
Has Turkish police abused, provocated and used excessive force on Fenerbahce fans ?
Turkish media and a lot of conscious and socially aware Turks has been debating the Turkish police’s provocation of Fenerbahce fans and the extrem violence which initiated a reaction from Fenerbahce fans and the incidents.
Daily Radikal’s Bağış Erten said the Turkish police used ‘ disproportionate violence ‘ on the Fenerbahce fans, bomabarding them with gas bombs, while columnist Cengiz Çandar dismissed claims that Fenerbahçe fans were provoked by the police’s ‘ excessive and unnecessary use of force.
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