Lyon fear Istanbul trip after Besiktas violence

Decines-Charpieu — Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has expressed fear over next week’s trip to Istanbul after Thursday’s European tie against Besiktas was scarred by violence and a pitch invasion.

Police reported the arrest of a dozen Lyon and Besiktas fans with five police officers and two supporters suffering minor injuries after fighting broke out at Lyon’s Parc OL.

The start of the high-risk Europa League quarterfinal first leg in France had to be delayed 45 minutes as officials attempted to clear the pitch of scores of Lyon fans. Many of them had already run a gauntlet of violence outside the ground where police used teargas to quell outbreaks of fighting and vandalism.

According to an AFP reporter, Lyon supporters poured onto the pitch as they attempted to protect themselves from firecrackers and other objects raining down from the stands above.

“Twelve arrests from both sets of fans were made,” a police spokesman said.

“Thrown objects slightly injured two fans who were taken to hospital,” a local authority spokesperson added.

Authorities had categorised the match as maximum risk with 1,000 stewards drafted in for the encounter held in an area of France’s third city which is home to many people of Armenian origin. Up to 20,000 Turkish fans, the majority living in France or Germany, were intermingled among the 35,000 supporters of Lyon.

Lyon president Aulas called for calm inside the stadium via a loudspeaker. When tensions finally subsided the match went ahead with Lyon winning 2-1.

Afterwards the Lyon boss told French television station W9 of his unease over next week’s second leg in Istanbul.

“I hope UEFA will take all the necessary measures,” he said.

“It seems difficult to travel to Besiktas. When you see how this fury spilled over on all sides we are very afraid.”

Thursday’s disturbing scenes from Lyon came on a black week for European club football after the Dortmund team bus was attacked with explosives on Tuesday. —