- Fenerbahce chairman Ali Koc was pushed to the ground and hit with a bottle
- The shocking incident took place after Fenerbahce’s 2-2 draw against Goztepe
Violence has broken out again in Turkish football, with Fenerbahce chairman Ali Koc the latest victim in this worrying trend.
The shocking incident took place on Saturday afternoon after the 2-2 draw between Fenerbahçe and Goztepe.
Koc was hit by a bottle thrown from the stands after he was pushed to the ground by a field robber.
The incident was captured on video and posted to social media, going viral within minutes.
This is not the first time that football violence in Turkey has made headlines. Over the past decade, the country’s football culture has repeatedly seen outbursts of fan aggression, often during high-stakes matches.
More violence has broken out in Turkish football, with Fenerbahce president Ali Koc the latest victim in a disturbing trend
The shocking incident took place after Fenerbahce’s 2-2 draw with Goztepe on Saturday
Koc (pictured above) was hit by a bottle thrown from the stands after initially being pushed to the ground by a pitch intruder
The latest attack, captured on camera and shared widely online, has rekindled concerns about the safety of officials, players and supporters in Turkish football.
The video shows Koc, who is being escorted off the field, being pushed to the ground and then hit by an object thrown from the crowd.
The Fenerbahçe president got back up and managed to walk away on his own, while being protected by security.
It is unclear whether the bottle was thrown at him on purpose or whether it was part of a larger riot, but the impact and subsequent reaction highlights the dangerous atmosphere that has arisen in some of Turkey’s most heated football environments.
Violence in Turkish football is not a new phenomenon. Mail Sport has reported extensively on the issue over the past 12 years, with numerous cases of crowd trouble, stadium bans and clashes between rival fans. However, attacks on public figures such as club presidents represent a worrying escalation.
Turkish football has long been associated with passionate support, but in recent years that passion has often boiled over into violence. Derbies between clubs such as Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas are particularly notorious for incidents of hooliganism. This intense rivalry has sometimes spilled over into the stands, with players and officials being targeted.
The incident was captured on video and posted to social media, where it went viral within minutes
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has taken several measures to curb the violence, including improving stadium security. However, these efforts have been only partially successful.
In 2013, the Istanbul derby between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray was marred by riots, with dozens of fans arrested and several injured. More recently, in 2022, a Besiktas fan was banned for life after throwing a flare onto the pitch, narrowly missing the opposing goalkeeper.