Manchester United supporters were reportedly attacked by Fenerbahce ultras in Istanbul on Wednesday night, ahead of their Europa League clash.
The incident occurred near the Grand Hisar Hotel, less than a kilometre from Taksim Square.
Shocking footage shared on social media shows hooligans charging towards and assaulting United fans.
One supporter told StrettyNews that a group of about 50 ultras “swarmed” them. Another fan claimed to have witnessed someone being hit with a crowbar.
The attacks appear to have been carried out by the GFB Bogaz Hooligans group, who proudly shared videos of the violence online.
They captioned one clip with “This is Istanbul”, highlighting the tense atmosphere surrounding the upcoming match.
United fans were attacked in the street by Fenerbahce ultras
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The violence in Istanbul has reignited concerns about fan safety in Turkish football. In 2000, two Leeds United supporters were tragically stabbed to death by Galatasaray hooligans near Taksim Square.
More recently, Fenerbahce players were attacked by Trabzonspor fans who stormed the pitch last season.
Former QPR star Bright Osayi-Samuel and Michy Batshuayi were forced to defend themselves during that incident.
Turkish football’s reputation has been further tarnished by other shocking events.
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Last year, Ankaragucu owner Faruk Koca ran onto the pitch and punched a referee during a match against Caykur Rizespor.
Manchester United’s Europa League match against Fenerbahce is set to take place on Thursday evening at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
The Red Devils currently sit in 21st place with only two points from previous league-phase matches, struggling to secure a top-eight spot for automatic qualification to the knockout rounds.
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Former United manager Jose Mourinho, now in charge of Fenerbahce, has defended Erik ten Hag despite the club’s poor start to the season.
Mourinho said, “What happened for sure, because it’s very objective, is they keep faith in the coach, they support the coach.”
United players are bracing for a hostile atmosphere from the home fans. The recent attacks on supporters have heightened tensions surrounding the match, raising concerns about fan safety and potential further incidents.
Fenerbahce ultras posted the footage on social media and boasted about the violence
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The attack on United fans has raised serious concerns about security measures for the upcoming match. UEFA may need to review safety protocols for away supporters in Istanbul.
Local authorities and both clubs will likely face pressure to ensure no further incidents occur. Enhanced police presence around the stadium and fan zones could be implemented.
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This is İSTANBUL! pic.twitter.com/GdQb0t9xEq
— Boğaz Holiganları | GFB (@BogazHooligans) October 23, 2024
The violent scenes may also impact the atmosphere inside Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
With United struggling in the Europa League, this off-field distraction adds another challenge for Erik ten Hag’s side.