Watch: Fan attacks goalie with corner flag during live match, suffers hemorrhage | Football News
Violence broke out during a live football match between Goztepe and Altay in Turkey as the latter’s goalkeeper was assaulted by a fan, who used the corner flag as a weapon. Ozan Evrim Ozenc was the player attacked and the incident took place while a fan was receiving treatment after being injured by a flare, which was thrown by another section of the crowd.
The fan left the venue in a stretcher, straight into an ambulance, the picture of which soon emerged on social media.
Ozenc received the blow, while the fan was being treated on the sidelines, with the match being halted. The goalkeeper, who was waiting for the action to resume, was standing outside his penalty area and was monitoring the situation. It was then a fan rushed from behind and hit him with the flag.
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As per reports, Ozenc was then taken to a hospital after suffering a hemorrhage and a four-centimetre opening in his head. The fan took two swings at the goalkeeper before he was stopped by the security and a few fans. He was also tackled to the ground to stop him from fleeing.
Here is the video:
The match was halted in the 25th minute after the incidents on the pitch and in the stands and was later called off.
“We wish a speedy recovery to our fans, who were seriously injured by a flare fired from the Altay away stand,” a statement by hosts Goztepe read on Twitter. ” Those who caused these events WE WANT HE TO BE TRIED WITH THE SEVERE PENALTY!” it added.
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Turkish Football Federation also took note of the incident and released an official statement condemning the turn of events.
“We condemn the events that took place in the TFF 1st League match played between Göztepe and Altay in Izmir and the vile attack on Altay goalkeeper Ozan Evrim Özenç.
“While the struggle of two eminent clubs in Izmir’s competition on the football field is expected to turn into a feast; This type of behavior of the aggressors who have not had their share of the spirit of Fair Play and the unifying culture of sports, endangering human life, is absolutely unacceptable.
“TFF President Mehmet Büyükekşi called the presidents of the two clubs immediately after the incident and received information and conveyed his wishes to the Göztepe and Altay communities.
“We are deeply saddened by the fact that some football fans were injured due to a flare thrown in the match, which was postponed due to the events. While we wish a speedy recovery to the injured football fans, we also wish the Altay goalkeeper Ozan Evrim Özenç, who was exposed to the violence of the attacker, get well soon.
“Necessary proceedings and investigations have been initiated regarding the Göztepe – Altay encounter. As the Turkish Football Federation, we will also follow the judicial process of the incident. We respectfully present it to the public’s information,” – the statement read.
