After Fenerbahce fans chanted “Vladimir Putin” during the game against Dynamo Kyiv, UEFA fined the Turkish club.
Fenerbahce has to pay a fine of 50,000 euros and has been sentenced to a partial lockout of its fans, according to the European Football Union. Should Fenerbahce violate the conditions in the next two years, at least 5,000 places must remain empty at the next home game in a European competition. UEFA justified the sanction by saying that Turkey fans threw objects and shouted insults.
Fenerbahce fans shout “Putin”.
Numerous Fenerbahce supporters chanted the name of the Russian President in the second half of the match of the second Champions League qualifying round in Istanbul. Vitaly Bujalskyj (57th minute) had given Kyiv the lead, then there were calls of “Vladimir Putin” from the stands. The incident was also widely discussed on social media. Many Fenerbahce fans expressed their regret at the behavior of the supporters at the stadium.
Club distances itself from fans
Fenerbahce distanced themselves from the behavior of the fans, stressing that it “does not represent our club and does not correspond to the institutional attitude of our club.” The club was the first to condemn the war from the start, it said in one.
Club boss Ali Koc condemned the behavior of the fans, but refused to apologize to the Ukrainians. “In my opinion, they were inappropriate, unnecessary calls. They were far removed from Fenerbahce’s identity and values. But what should we do, close people’s mouths with a zipper?” Koc said, according to the sports newspaper “Fanatik”. .