FENERBACHE chairman Ali Koc was pushed to the ground by a pitch invader and pelted with bottles in shocking scenes in Turkey.
Koc pulled off a major managerial coup this summer when he convinced Jose Mourinho to become Fenerbache boss.
But he became the victim of fan violence after his side drew 2-2 away to Goztepe.
Koc reportedly joined the away fans in the stands after some weren’t allowed in before walking back on to the pitch about five minutes into the second half.
A thug managed to make it on to the pitch and shove him to the ground.
He then attempted to rain punches down on Koc but was interrupted by security.
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The incident riled Goztepe fans further who then showered Koc in bottles.
His security gathered to form a human shield around the president before police armed with riot shields protected him from a shower of bottles.
Following the game, Fenerbahce TV issued a strong statement: “We are witnessing a night of football terrorism. The situation is extremely dangerous.”
Now Goztepe have responded, accusing Koc of “deliberately riling their fans up”provoking” their fans.
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The club said in a statement: “During the league match played against Fenerbahçe in our stadium yesterday, it is completely unacceptable to enter areas where only accredited people can enter, ‘despite all the warnings of our CEO’, while the match is still going on and to provoke our fans.”
The attack marks an escalation in fan violence which has been bubbling away in Turkey for years now.
Last season, a referee was punched by the club president of Ankaragucu, Faruk Koca.
The referee was hospitalised and required surgery for a fractured eye socket.
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Turkish football more widely has been punctuated by growing violence for a while now.
Famous for it hostile environments and passionate fans, recent years have seen an escalation in violent incidents.
In 2013, the Istanbul derby between Fenerbache and Galatasaray saw riots take place after the game, with dozens of fans arrested and several injured.
In 2022, a Besiktas fan was banned for life for throwing a lit flare on to the pitch which narrowly missed the opposing team’s goalkeeper.
And in March Trabzonspor fans invaded the pitch and attacked several Fenerbache players.
They were forced to play their next six games behind closed doors while Fenerbache also threatened to leave the Turkish league.
After being unveiled by Fenerbache as their new boss in June, Mourinho announced: “Normally a coach is loved after victories.
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“In this case I feel that I am loved before the victories.
“That is a big responsibility that I feel. I promise you from this moment, I belong to your family. This shirt is my skin.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
