Water polo: Partizan Belgrade seeks to postpone Galatasaray match

BELGRADE - Agence France-Presse

Red Star Belgrade fans burn a Galatasaray flag during a home game last week-end. AA Photo

Partizan Belgrade proposed Nov. 26 to the European Swimming League (LEN) to postpone over security reasons the waterpolo Champions League match with Galatasaray after a fatal stabbing of a Serbian basketball fan in Istanbul.

"Serbia's interior ministry informed us that it proposes, taking into account the current security situation, to postpone the match until conditions for its playing are met," the club, a multiple European champion, said in a statement.

Partizan Belgrade said it had informed the European aquatic sports governing body about the proposal and that it was awaiting "information on a new possible date for the match."       

A 25-year-old Red Star Belgrade fan died after he was stabbed in the heart during fighting between Serbian and Turkish supporters in Istanbul on Nov. 21 night. The violence occurred before the match between Red Star Belgrade and Galatasaray.

The young man was the first person to die in spectator violence in connection with Euroleague basketball play.

On Nov. 25 Turkish police arrested five Galatasaray fans in connection with the deadly violence.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic had earlier voiced "outrage over the monstrous murder" and his government demanded that the perpetrators be arrested and punished.

Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu called Vucic to express regret and condolences for the death. He pledged that Turkish authorities would do everything to find the killers.