This was published 12 years ago
'Welcome to Hell' - Turkish horror stories
Istanbul has long been a dreaded destination for football teams and this morning (AEST) English giants Arsenal found out why.
The London club escaped with a 0-0 draw in their Champions League qualifier against Besiktas but not before being pelted with missiles from a hostile crowd.
It's not the first, or probably last time a visiting team will feel the wrath of the extremely violent fans in Turkey.
Attribution: Not SuppliedThe London club escaped with a 0-0 draw in their Champions League qualifier against Besiktas but not before being pelted with missiles from a hostile crowd.
It's not the first, or probably last time a visiting team will feel the wrath of the extremely violent fans in Turkey.
Gunners’ midfielder Aaron Ramsey was sent-off late in the match, leaving his side vulnerable for the final 10 minutes.
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Flares are sparked deep in the Besiktas crowd as the locals become restless.
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Besiktas manager Slaven Bilic was sent from the dugout after he lost his cool following a decision against the home side.
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was pelted with water bottles at the half-time break as the mood darkened inside the stadium.
However, the attack on Wenger was nothing compared to the violence endured by some visiting teams in past clashes.
Attribution: Not SuppliedHowever, the attack on Wenger was nothing compared to the violence endured by some visiting teams in past clashes.
Leeds United was left in mourning after two fans were murdered during the first-leg of their UEFA Cup semi-final tie with Galatasaray in 2000.
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Following the match, flowers, scarves and shirts were laid outside the Elland Road gates in tribute to Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight.
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A minutes silence was noticed before the start of the return leg, but Leeds suffered more heartbreak, missing the final after being knocked out 4-2 on aggregrate.
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Manchester United famously visited Istanbul in 1993, when they were knocked out of Europe in an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.
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Former boss Alex Ferguson said of the trip that United were "exposed … to as much hostility and harassment as I have ever known on a football expedition".
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