Fenerbahçe pay the price
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
Article summary
Fenerbahçe SK must play a game away from their home stadium as punishment for recent crowd trouble.
Article body
The Turkish Football Association (TFF) has fined Fenerbahçe SK and ordered them to play a Super League fixture away from the Sükrü Saraçoglu stadium following crowd disturbances at their away match against Trabzonspor.
Objects thrown
The 15 August game at the Avni Aker stadium ended in a 1-0 victory for Fenerbahçe, but the match concluded with visiting fans being evacuated to avoid further conflict. During the match supporters of both teams threw seats and various objects at each other and on to the field of play, resulting in several injuries.
'Unfair' ban
It is thought Fenerbahçe will appeal against the fine of €700 and closure of their Istanbul home, with officials quoted as calling the ban "unfair". Trabzonspor were also fined €700. Meanwhile, Galatasaray SK, Gaziantepspor and Malatyaspor were all fined €700 for similar disturbances.
