Fener seeks end to ban on visiting supporters

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Fenerbahçe hopes to have its fans when it faces Galatasaray on Dec. 16. AA photo

Fenerbahçe has applied for the ban on away fans to be lifted for the Galatasaray derby match.

The Istanbul club made a written request to the Turkish Football Federation and the Union of Clubs yesterday to lift the ban on away fans for the upcoming Spor Toto Super League derby on Dec. 16.

“As long as the clubs and the institutions fully shoulder their responsibilities, Turkish football could be freed from an old-fashioned ban,” the club said.

The decision was established last year by the Union of Clubs, the organization formed by the chairmen of 18 top-flight clubs. According to the decision, no visiting fans are allowed into games between the “big four” teams: Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor.

The games between Beşiktaş and Bursaspor, whose fans have a heated rivalry, are played without away fans as well.

On Dec. 9, Fenerbahçe fans protested the ban on away fans by remaining in the stands of Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium for an hour after the final whistle of their team’s 2-1 win over Istanbul BB.