Besiktas fail to show for resumption of cup semi-final against Fenerbahce

Besiktas refused to show for the resumption of their cup semi-final against Fenerbahce on Thursday after it was originally abandoned last month due to crowd violence.

The teams were locked at 0-0 in the April 19 second-leg game when the match was halted in the 57th minute after Besiktas coach Senol Gunes was struck by an object thrown from the stands. He needed five stitches in his head after he was taken to hospital.

Fenerbahce will be declared winners of the tie by default while Besiktas will not be able to play in the cup next season and will pay back the 4 million Turkish lira (£700,000) they earned from the competition this year.

“Besiktas made a difficult decision. I would have preferred to lose instead of winning this way,” Fenerbahce coach Aykut Kocaman told reporters.

The sides were level on aggregate at 2-2 after a tense first leg at Besiktas during which three players were sent off.

The second leg tie between the long-time Istanbul rivals had started in a tense atmosphere at Fenerbahce’s ground and Besiktas were reduced to 10 men after former Real Madrid defender Pepe was sent off for a reckless tackle before the game was later stopped.

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) ruled last week that the match should resume behind closed doors from the time when it was stopped. Fenerbahce were fined one million lira (£175,000) and their ground was closed to supporters for three matches.

Besiktas reacted to the decision with “sorrow and regret” and tried to overturn it in court but their appeal was rejected on Wednesday.

Fenerbahce will play Akhisarspor in the cup final.

(c) Sky News 2018: Besiktas fail to show for resumption of cup semi-final against Fenerbahce