"The fans from both sides first gathered on a shopping street. Accompanied by whistles and shouts, the fans from both sides approached each other, and then a serious physical conflict broke out, which eventually led to a brawl. In the video, one side of the fans surrounded the other side's fans in a coffee shop, and then kept throwing stools and other debris into the shop. Throughout the whole process, only one police-looking person on the street tried to maintain order, but compared with hundreds of fans, he was obviously weak and unable to stop the brawl. On the other hand, the peddlers on the street were startled and couldn't avoid it in time. The whole scene could be described as chaotic. After a short "exchange of fire," the Manchester United fans, who were at a disadvantage in terms of numbers, had to flee in panic. Behind them were the screaming Fenerbahçe fans who chased after them. "
The local TV station in Gijón broadcast a news image. It was in early December 2004, when Manchester United was a guest in Istanbul and had a conflict with Fenerbahçe fans on the streets of Istanbul.
"In this conflict, two Manchester United fans were injured. Fortunately, the injuries were not serious."
"In view of the possible safety risks of the away game in Istanbul, the Sporting de Gijón Club appeals to all fans to stay in Gijón and not travel to the away game."
"The team's manager, Mr. Li Ang, has expressed to the fans that the team will do everything to bring back victory, and the fans have to stay in Gijón and wait for their return!"
*****
In three days, Sporting de Gijón would face the Turkish super powerhouse Fenerbahçe in Istanbul, Turkey, in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League round of 16. The Sporting de Gijón Club issued a safety alert on the club's official website and local TV stations, appealing to the fans not to go to the away game to cheer for the team.
It was rare for the club to take the initiative to appeal to the fans not to go to the away game. Generally speaking, the more people who went to the away game to cheer for the team, the better.
However, as long as one knew a little about Sporting de Gijón's away game in Turkey, one would know that the move by the Sporting de Gijón Club was not superfluous, but necessary.
The Turks were originally the descendants of the Turks. Nearly a thousand years ago, they lived as nomads and lived by the water and grass. Fierce and violent blood flowed in their bones. They mounted their horses and held their machetes in their hands. Every man was a warrior. It was because of this that the powerful Ottoman Empire ruled Europe and the Middle East, and they were the only ones who reigned supreme.
A thousand years later, there was no need for wild horses or machetes. The clothes, customs, and environment had long been filled with the imprint of modern industrial civilization. However, the courage, ferocity, and rebelliousness in the bones had not changed for a thousand years. There was blood on the streets, and blades were clashing. The law was strictly controlling everything. If one wanted to find an outlet to vent and show off the male hormones of a Turkic man, the best way to do so was to behave atrociously on the court.
"Welcome to hell." This sentence was very famous on the football field. Some home grounds with a horrible atmosphere were called hellish home grounds. The phrase "hellish home grounds" was the slogan after the 1993 Champions League. It made Istanbul and Turkey famous in Europe overnight.
The Turkish fans were genuine violent people. Coupled with the provocation and participation of football hooligans, it was not surprising that a football match would turn into a bloody tragedy. In the 2000 UEFA Europa League semi-finals, two Leeds fans were stabbed to death in Istanbul. This made this land, which was mixed between Europe and Asia, terrified people. No football fan in any country would be proud that their home was "hell." The Turks dared to be the first in the world. This was really shocking.
Almost every year, Turkey's away games would make the teams that came from afar tremble in fear. Any team from other parts of Europe would feel a lot of pressure when they came to Turkey for a match. If their psychological quality was not good, they might directly go weak in the legs and lose their form. Many teams, even if they were big clubs, did not want to go to Turkey for a match.
The horror of the environment in Erqi Stadium made the visiting fans not dare to go with the team. They would rather stay at home and watch the television. In Turkey's stadiums, the collapse of the stands, bloody riots, and even the firing of guns by the police were used to it.
*****
In addition, it was worth mentioning that what made the visiting players and fans flinch was not only the fanaticism and belligerence of the Turkish fans, but also the inaction and favoritism of the local Turkish police.
In an interview, Manchester United's legendary Bryan Robson once revealed his experience playing with the team in Turkey. "It was 1993. We were facing Galatasaray in an away game. The stadium was full of hostility. When a policeman escorted Cantona out of the stadium, when we reached the steps, the policeman suddenly hit Cantona's head from behind, causing him to fall down the steps. So I immediately fought back, and then I was also beaten with a shield by the other policemen. After that, I had to get eight stitches on my elbow. I don't think there are many countries where the police beat up players! "
Indeed, this incident was also regarded as the most violent game in Manchester United's history. Even Manager Ferguson said afterwards, "The police there were more terrible than the fans."
Therefore, in view of the worrying environment in Turkey, and in addition, Sporting de Gijón had been away from European competition for more than 20 years and lacked the experience of "fighting" in away games, Sporting de Gijón's fans were not optimistic when faced with the powerful Fenerbahçe fans. Therefore, this time, the Sporting de Gijón club took the initiative to appeal to the fans not to go with the team to the away game.
In fact, issuing such a safety warning was also tacitly approved by the team's manager, Li Ang. He did not want his fans to have any accidents in this terrifying away game.
Although it was estimated that some fans would not listen to the advice and go to Istanbul, the safety warning issued in advance was more or less useful. At the very least, they hoped that the Sporting de Gijón fans would understand the "difference" in this away game and not take the initiative to cause trouble. They were not cowards. In a situation where their safety could be threatened, safety came first!
The Sporting de Gijón club finally issued a stern warning to the fans. If some fans insisted on going to the away game, then they were required to follow the team and try to go out in groups. They should not be alone or in groups of three or five. It must be safe to be in groups of more than ten people.
*****
Sporting de Gijón issued a safety warning to their fans. In the eyes of the Spanish media, this was normal. After all, the terror of Turkey's away games was known throughout Europe.
However, this immediately caused the dissatisfaction of the Turkish side.
The Turkish tourism administration directly said that this was a form of discrimination against Turkey and severely criticized some European countries for their long-standing slander and discrimination against Turkey.
The Turkish media also added fuel to the fire and stirred up the atmosphere.
"Back then, the Crusaders were beaten to a pulp by our powerful Ottoman cavalry. Now, they are purely taking revenge and slandering us!"
"… We Turks love peace and never cause trouble. These are all rumors and slander against us!"
"They are discriminating against Turkey. Those are unfounded things. Damn lies, b * stards!"
The Turkish media, in their newspapers and on the Internet, played up this matter as if they were innocent and wronged. At the same time, they called on the Turkish fans and Fenerbahçe fans to fight bravely and fight against these "unjust" remarks and "gratuitous" slander to the end!
*****
Sure enough, the fire was successfully ignited by these media who "wanted to see the world in chaos" and the fire was getting bigger and bigger.
The Turkish fans, who were already hot-tempered and would make trouble for no reason, were successfully ignited by these media. They were furious.
"This is discrimination! Damn it! Xihong people, just you wait!! "
"Xihong? I've never heard of that small club. As long as they dare to come, we will kill them! "
"Kill them! Stab them in the ass! "
"B * stards Xihong people, you will pay the price for your actions!"
The Europa League match, which seemed both ordinary and extraordinary at the same time, arrived just like that.
Sporting de Gijón would be visiting the Ottoman continent for the first time in history.
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