More violence has erupted in Turkish football, with Fenerbahce president Ali Koc being the latest victim in a troubling trend.
The shocking incident took place after Fenerbahce's 2-2 draw with Goztepe on Saturday afternoon.
Koc was struck by a bottle hurled from the stands after initially being pushed to the ground by a pitch invader.
The incident was captured on video and posted to social media, going viral in a matter of minutes.
This is not the first time football violence in Turkey has made headlines. Over the past decade, the country’s football culture has seen repeated flare-ups of fan aggression, often during high-stakes matches.
More violence has erupted in Turkish football, with Fenerbahce president Ali Koc being the latest victim in a troubling trend
The shocking incident took place after Fenerbahce's 2-2 draw with Goztepe on Saturday
Koc (pictured above) was struck by a bottle hurled from the stands after initially being pushed to the ground by a pitch invader
The latest attack, caught on camera and widely shared online, has reignited concerns over the safety of officials, players, and supporters in Turkish football.
The video shows Koc, who is being escorted off the pitch, being pushed to the ground before being struck by an object that was thrown from the crowd.
The Fenerbahce president returned to his feet and managed to walk off unassisted while being protected by security.
It is unclear if the bottle was thrown deliberately at him or as part of a larger disturbance, but the impact and subsequent reaction highlight the dangerous atmosphere that has developed in some of Turkey’s most heated football environments.
The violence in Turkish football is not a new phenomenon. Mail Sport has reported extensively on the issue over the last 12 years, chronicling numerous instances of crowd trouble, stadium bans, and clashes between rival supporters. However, attacks on high-profile figures such as club presidents mark 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 like Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas have been particularly notorious for incidents of hooliganism. These intense rivalries have occasionally spilled beyond the stands, with players and officials becoming targets.
The incident was captured on video and posted to social media, going viral in minutes
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has implemented various measures to curb the violence, including increased security at stadiums, but these efforts have only been partially successful.
In 2013, the Istanbul derby between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray was marred by riots, with dozens of fans arrested and several people injured. More recently, in 2022, a Besiktas fan was banned for life after throwing a flare onto the pitch, narrowly missing the opposing goalkeeper.