Fenerbahce president Ali Koc is attacked by a pitch invader and targeted by bottle-throwing fans as chaos erupts after draw with Goztepe, marking another violent chapter in Turkish football

More violence erupted in Turkish football on Saturday after Fenerbahce president Ali Koc became the latest victim in a troubling trend. 

The shocking incident took place after Fenerbahce’s 2-2 draw with Goztepe, which was the side’s second Super Lig match of the 2024-25 campaign.

Koc was struck by a bottle hurled from the stands after initially being pushed to the ground by a pitch invader.

The incident was captured on video and posted to social media, going viral in a matter of minutes. 

This is not the first time football violence in Turkey has made headlines. Over the past decade, the country’s football culture has seen repeated flare-ups of fan aggression, often during high-stakes matches. 

The incident was captured on video and posted to social media, going viral in minutes

The shocking incident took place after Fenerbahce’s 2-2 draw with Goztepe on Saturday 

The latest attack, caught on camera and widely shared online, has reignited concerns over the safety of officials, players, and supporters in Turkish football.

The video shows Koc, who is being escorted off the pitch, being pushed to the ground before being struck by an object that was thrown from the crowd. 

The Fenerbahce president returned to his feet and managed to walk off unassisted while being protected by security. 

It is unclear if the bottle was thrown deliberately at him or as part of a larger disturbance, but the impact and subsequent reaction highlight the dangerous atmosphere that has developed in some of Turkey’s most heated football environments.

The violence in Turkish football is not a new phenomenon. Mail Sport has reported extensively on the issue over the last 12 years, chronicling numerous instances of crowd trouble, stadium bans, and clashes between rival supporters. However, attacks on high-profile figures such as club presidents mark a worrying escalation.

Turkish football has long been associated with passionate support, but in recent years, that passion has often boiled over into violence. 

Derbies between clubs like Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas have been particularly notorious for incidents of hooliganism. These intense rivalries have occasionally spilled beyond the stands, with players and officials becoming targets.

Koc (pictured above) was struck by a bottle hurled from the stands after initially being pushed to the ground by a pitch invader

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has implemented various measures to curb the violence, including increased security at stadiums, but these efforts have only been partially successful.

In 2013, the Istanbul derby between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray was marred by riots, with dozens of fans arrested and several people injured. More recently, in 2022, a Besiktas fan was banned for life after throwing a flare onto the pitch, narrowly missing the opposing goalkeeper.

Back in March, there were shocking scenes of violence as Trabzonspor fans stormed the pitch and attempted to attack Fenerbahce’s players.

It came after former Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi scored the decisive goal in a 3-2 Fenerbahce win three minutes from time, after former Manchester United midfielder Fred netted twice.

Back in March, shocking scenes of violence followed after the match between Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce in the Turkish Super Lig 

Batshuayi’s late winner saw the visiting players pelted with missiles thrown from the stands at Papara Park and things intensified after Fenerbahce celebrated their win at the end.

Furious home fans, some wielding weapons, tried to reach the celebrating players, who fought back to protect themselves.

Former QPR man Bright Osayi-Samuel was seen raining down punches on his would-be attacker as team-mates and Fenerbahce staff waded in to help.