We have been playing for 4 minutes and 17 seconds this Sunday during the meeting between Besiktas and Antalyaspor, a late match of the 14th day of the Turkish championship. This is the moment chosen by the fans of the Istanbul club to throw stuffed animals and other toys on the lawn. Their way of paying tribute to the more than 44,000 victims of the earthquake which shook Turkey (and Syria) on February 6th. A drama that started overnight at 4:17 a.m.
This very moving gesture, however, does not hide the anger of Besiktas supporters, reputed to be rather close to the opposition and who also denounce the government’s lack of reaction to the disaster during the first days in devastated areas.
“Government, resign! »
“Government, resign! “Thus chanted Sunday evening thousands of Besiktas supporters in the Inonu stadium, joining those of the Fenerbahçe club who had sang the day before” Lies, cheating, it’s been 20 years, resign! during a match against Konyaspor.
Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Action party, a coalition partner of Mr Erdogan’s ruling AKP party, called on clubs to take “urgent and necessary measures” to ensure matches are played without fans.