April 27 – The Turkish Football Federation have announced that the remainder of the Turkish Cup semifinal, abandoned because of crowd trouble by Fenerbahce fans, will take place on May 3 behind closed doors – but Besiktas say they will refuse to turn up.
The game between two of the country’s biggest teams was abandoned after 57 minutes on April 19 after the Besiktas coach Senol Gunes was hit on the head by an object with the scores locked at 0-0 at Fenerbahce’s Sukru Saracoglu stadium after the first leg ended in a 2-2 draw.
Television pictures appeared to show 65-year-old Gunes falling to the ground and clutching his head after being hit during a row between Fenerbahce fans and Besiktas players on the bench. He was subsequently taken to hospital.
Besiktas say being asked to replay final 33 minutes is entirely the wrong decision and now look to have withdrawn from the competition.
“We have been on the field for 115 years, we have won, had draws or lost on the field. In order not to accept being losers, we will not show up on the field on May 3,” Besiktas said in a statement on their website.
“Even though the millions clearly saw that the visitors Besiktas were the only victimised side at Kadikoy [the district of Istanbul where Fenerbahce are based], the Turkish Football Federation ruled that our Turkish Cup semifinals second leg against Fenerbahce would continue from where it was abandoned.
“As a club who adhere to fair play at all times, Besiktas JK have decided not to take part in the said cup game.”
Besiktas chairman Fikret Orman called it a “sad day”, while the Turkish Football Federation said it would make a final decision on the result in the “coming weeks”.
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