Conference League clash delayed and crowd sprayed with tear gas after fan’s cheeky stunt sparks riot
NK MARIBOR’S Europa Conference League clash with Fenerbahce was delayed by 28 minutes after a fan’s cheeky stunt sparked a riot.The Slovenian side hosted their Turkish counterparts already trailing 3-1 from last week’s first leg.
Fenerbahce fans clashed with their Maribor counterparts in ugly scenesCredit: Getty
Fenerbahce supporters reportedly stormed into the Maribor sections of the groundCredit: Getty
Maribor fans were alleged to have taken a Fenerbahce bannerCredit: Getty
All hell broke loose during the second half of the matchCredit: Getty
With Maribor 1-0 down in Thursday’s return fixture, pandemonium broke out in the stands.
Fenerbahce supporters alleged that a Maribor fan dressed as stewards to steal their banner.
The visiting supporters didn’t take kindly to the reported act, attacking the home end in order to get their banner back.
What followed were wild scenes in which riot police battled to get matters back under control.
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Fenerbahce players and manager Ismail Kartal could be seen begging their fans to stand down.
The riot took a long time to simmer down, with 28 minutes of stoppage time being required at the end of the match.
Irfan Kahveci’s strike on 17 minutes had given Fener the lead on the night.
Further efforts by Sebastian Szymanski and Dusan Tadic completed a 3-0 away leg victory and 6-1 aggregate triumph.
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After the match, Fenerbahce fans claimed on social media that they had been tear gassed by police.
The Turkish side will face FC Twente of the Eredivisie in the Europa Conference League play-off round.
FC Twente defeated Latvian side Riga 5-0 on aggregate.
Fenerbahce manager Ismail Kartal begged fans to come to orderCredit: Getty
Players also pleaded with their own supportersCredit: Getty
Riot police got involved in the unrestCredit: Getty More