Trouble has flared in Istanbul as Turkish fans injured a number of Greek soccer supporters with missiles hurled before the start of a match planned as a showcase of new Turkish-Greek friendship. The foreign ministers of the two countries, attending the UEFA Cup tie together to underline a recent warming of diplomatic ties, had to cut short a tour of the ground when Greek fans threw seats and plastic cartons of yoghurt drinks at them.
The Anatolian news agency said fans of home side Fenerbahce had hurled objects into the section full of visiting supporters of Athens side Panathinaikos after exchanging insults before kick-off. Witnesses at the stadium saw first aid workers hurry to the scene. It was not clear how many were injured or how seriously.
The visitors' section of the stand was rapidly surrounded by Turkish riot police and the club made announcements over the stadium loudspeakers calling on fans not to throw things. The problems appeared to calm once the match had started although the atmosphere was tense. Fans lit coloured flares, spreading smoke across the pitch.
The brief outbreak of violence was a blow to officials from both countries who want the match to be a showcase for a joint Turkish and Greek bid to host the 2008 European championship. The UEFA Cup second round game is the first meeting between Greek and Turkish clubs in a major European competition.
Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Turkish counterpart Sukru Sina Gurel cut short their pre-match tour of the touchlines when they were bombarded with plastic seats and drinks by Greek fans. Witnesses said the missiles came from a part of the stands containing the Panathinaikos supporters.
Turkey and Greece have been slowly repairing their relations since earthquakes hit both countries in 1999. They still have a range of unresolved diplomatic disputes as well as lingering bad blood from conflict and population exchanges in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Fenerbahce fans were clearly determined to remind the Greeks of history. One large banner of an Ottoman sultan on horseback read "Istanbul since 1453", a reference to the conquest of the city, then called Constantinople.
Fenerbahce have already been fined by soccer authorities this year for missiles thrown on to the pitch at previous European matches this season.
Filed by Shane Murray
