Football: Turkish fans riot over disputed penalty
Several people were reported to have been hurt in the ensuing chaos.
DIYARBAKIR (AFP) - Dozens of Turkish football fans on Monday clashed with police after disputing the decision of the referee to award a penalty in a crunch lower-tier league game in the southeast of the country, an AFP photographer said.
Police brought out riot shields and used tear gas and water cannon to keep the fans at bay in third division play-off clash between Yeni Diyarbakirspor and Denizli Buyuksehir Belediyespor in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir.
The match was then abandoned.
The trouble started in the 88th minute of the match when the referee, with the home side up 1-0 and sensing victory, awarded a penalty to the visitors Denizli who duly converted the penalty in the crucial end of season tie to level the game 1-1.
Incensed by the decision, Yeni Diyarbakirspor fans invaded the pitch and began attacking the referee and the visiting team.
Several people were reported to have been hurt in the ensuing chaos.
Turkish football is seeking to restore its battered image by cracking down on crowd trouble, but flare-ups remain relatively common, especially in the lower divisions of the league.
