admin
TURKEY’S SuperLig and domestic cup matches have been suspended for one week after the Fenerbahce team bus was shot at by a gunman on Saturday.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced the decision after a meeting with the sports minister yesterday.
“We believe the incident was a terrorist attack, targeting not only Fenerbahce but Turkish sports, “ said TFF chairman Yildirim Demiroren.
“We decided to postpone all league and cup games for a week.”
The second-placed side were were travelling to Trabzon airport, following their 5-1 victory over Rizespor, when the shooting happened.
The driver was taken to hospital but no players were injured in the attack.
Fenerbahce had called for the league to be suspended saying: “We think it’s unavoidable to suspend the league until this dark attack is enlightened.”
Fenerbahce striker Emmanuel Emenike said he and his team-mates had been left stunned by what happened.
“The word ‘shot’ came as a big shock,” the Nigeria international told BBC Sport. “But when we saw blood and the shattered driver’s side window, it quickly turned into a scary moment for everyone on the bus.”
Fenerbahce and Trabzonspor are banned from taking away fans when they play each other and a game between the sides last season at the Avni Aker Stadium in Trabzon was abandoned after objects were thrown on to the pitch.
Fenerbahce, who have former Premier League players Dirk Kuyt, Raul Meireles and Emre Belozoglu in their side, are the defending champions of the SuperLig and have won the major domestic competition 19 times.
They are two points behind Galatasaray with eight games left this season and were due to play fourth-placed Bursapor on April 13.
Their Turkish Cup quarter-final against Mersin İdman Yurdu tomorrow had already been postponed following the attack. — BBC Sport
Online Reporter