Górnik Zabrze Fans Clash with Police Ahead of Champions League Match in Istanbul

Turkish police and Górnik Zabrze football fans clashed in the away sector before Tuesday’s Champions League qualifier in Istanbul, resulting in injuries, arrests, and a police liaison breaking his arm.

Clashes Erupt in the Away Sector Over Banners

Górnik Zabrze played an away match against Fenerbahçe Istanbul on Tuesday, July 21, in the first leg of the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. A large group of Górnik fans arrived in Istanbul, with some flying in on three specially chartered planes and others traveling by land or hitchhiking.

The unrest broke out before the match began in the away sector. According to RMF FM reporter Krzysztof Zasada, when Górnik fans hung up their banners, staff instructed them to take them down, which prompted a police intervention and clashes with officers.

Police Liaison Injured and Fans Detained

RMF FM reported that during the brawl, the supervisor of Polish spotters—police officers assisting fans and ensuring safety—broke his arm. The injury was not the result of a direct attack, but rather an unfortunate fall by the man; the situation calmed shortly after, and the match started on schedule at 21:00 local time, with video of the incident published on social media.

Police initially detained eight Polish nationals, and during the match break, identified one more participant in the altercation. The fans were transported to a police station for questioning, and it remains unclear what charges they may face.

Fenerbahçe Secures Narrow First-Leg Victory

Fenerbahçe won Tuesday’s match against Górnik with a score of 1-0. The winning goal for the Turkish side was scored by Brazilian forward Anderson Talisca. The return leg is scheduled to take place on July 29 in Zabrze.