- Manchester United fans were attacked by a swarm of Fenerbahçe ultras on Wednesday
- A group of hooligans shared provocative messages allegedly sent by a United fan, but Mail Sport was unable to trace the account.
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Manchester United fans were attacked by a horde of Fenerbahçe ultras in Istanbul on Wednesday night, as shocking footage revealed.
One supporter claimed his group was “surrounded” by up to 50 hooligans, while another told Mail Sport he saw a fan being hit with a crowbar.
Footage shows an attack that took place outside the Grand Hisar hotel, less than a kilometer from Taksim Square, where two Leeds fans were stabbed to death by Galatasaray hooligans in 2000 before a UEFA Cup semi-final match. UEFA.
Videos of ultras charging and attacking fans were proudly shared by hooligan accounts, and a self-described “anarchist” page wrote “this is Istanbul.”
In an ominous Instagram post, a group of hooligans shared a photo of themselves on the streets, some on motorbikes, with the caption: “At the first blow of a fight… Manchester is now truly RED :).”
Manchester United fans were harassed and attacked on the streets of Istanbul on Wednesday night, and a Fenerbahce ultra group appeared to take responsibility.
‘This is Istanbul,’ the ultras wrote while sharing images of fans being attacked.
In an ominous Instagram post, uultras wrote: ‘Manchester is now truly RED’
United fans landed in the Turkish capital on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash against Jose Mourinho’s side.
‘About 50 of them pounced on us (a group of five). “A guy followed me down the street and pretended to help me before shooting me in the jaw,” one fan told the popular United fan website. StrettyNews.
The attacks on United fans appear to have been carried out by the GFB Bogaz Hooligans group, who shared the original images.
On their X account, the group shared a message purportedly showing an exchange with a potential United fan.
Mail Sport was unable to locate an account with the United fan’s Instagram username. It is very possible that the message was fabricated or that the account was modified or deleted.
The screenshots omit some messages but show the United fan writing “see you soon”, “game on” and “let’s go” before announcing his location at the Celtic Irish Pub in Istanbul.
Sharing the message and video, the hooligans wrote: “An answer has been given to the traitors who insulted our religious and national values and gave us a stand.”
However, the Celtic Irish Pub is about an 11-minute walk from the Grand Hisar hotel, where footage of the attack was filmed.
A group of hooligans shared messages from an account Mail Sport could not find which allegedly shows a United fan inviting ultras to a pub.
“If you go to a foreign country and insult the people there, I’m glad the ending wasn’t worse,” wrote one Fenerbahce fan.
Turkish football has long been marred by thug violence and that has not diminished in recent seasons.
Last season, Fenerbahce players were attacked by Trabzonspor fans who burst onto the pitch, throwing objects and brandishing corner flags.
Former QPR star Bright Osayi-Samuel was forced to defend himself to protect himself when an attacker punched him. Michy Batshuayi launched a spinning heel kick that connected with a follower and caused him to quickly disperse.
Even this season, a Fenerbahce fan stormed onto the pitch and pushed club president Ali Koc before another threw a bottle from the stands and hit him.
