Fans of Turkish soccer team Galatasaray are in trouble for nearly crossing the line between “fun and games” and “foul play.”
German police arrested 21 Galatasaray fans Tuesday for their actions before, during and after the UEFA Champions League game between their team and host Borrusia Dortmund, German news outlet DW reports.
Galatasaray fans threw flares, fireworks and other objects around the stands and onto the field at Dortmund’s Signali Iduna Park. Galatasaray The game was halted twice, as players and officials pleaded with fans to behave.
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Police detained 700 Galatasaray fans after the game and made 21 arrests. Senior prosecutor Birgit Cirullies is considering charging some Galatasaray fans with attempted manslaughter, as a chair and fireworks were thrown from the visiting fans’ section down a level into one containing Dortmund fans.
“There could have been fatalities,” Cirullies said.
Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp described the Galatasaray fans’ actions as “pure provocation,” according to the BBC.
“This is frustrating and a bad image,” Klopp said, according to the BBC. “It casts a bit of a shadow over an otherwise great game,” he said.
Dortmund won the game 4-1.
Last month, UEFA fined Galatasaray €50,000 ($62,000) after their fans threw flares onto the field at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium during a Champions League game.
Thumbnail photo by Martin Meissner/The Associated Press
