Fenerbahce Fans Clash With Police After Controversial Kayserispor Loss

Fenerbahce Fans Clash With Police After Controversial Kayserispor Loss...

Turkish soccer club Fenerbahce saw violent protests erupt late Friday after a 2-1 away loss to Kayserispor, with fans clashing with riot police outside the stadium. The match, played in central Turkey's Kadir Has Stadium, turned controversial when referee Halil Umut Meler disallowed a late Fenerbahce equalizer for offside.

Video footage shows hundreds of Fenerbahce supporters throwing objects at security forces near the team bus around 11:30 PM local time. At least 12 arrests were reported by Turkish media as police used tear gas to disperse crowds. The unrest comes during a tense title race where Fenerbahce trails Galatasaray by four points.

American interest spiked after ESPN+ broadcast the match live at 1 PM ET Friday. Social media lit up with reactions to the disallowed goal decision, which Turkish pundits called "questionable" during post-game analysis. The incident marks the third straight week of fan violence in Turkey's Super Lig.

FIFA vice-president and Turkish Football Federation chairman Mehmet Buyukeksi condemned the violence in a Saturday morning statement. He warned of potential point deductions for clubs whose fans disrupt matches. Fenerbahce officials announced they will appeal the refereeing decision to the league's disciplinary board.

The clash highlights growing tensions in Turkish soccer as the season enters its final weeks. Many US-based Turkish immigrants follow the league passionately, particularly in major cities like New York and Los Angeles with large diaspora communities. Friday's match drew over 350,000 viewers on ESPN's streaming platforms.

Turkish authorities have deployed additional security for Sunday's Istanbul derby between Galatasaray and Besiktas. The federation is under pressure to address both officiating controversies and fan behavior after recent incidents drew criticism from UEFA officials.