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June 30, 2008

"Spaniards celebrate Euro 2008 win

Spaniards celebrate Euro 2008 win

Euphoric Spaniards poured into the streets to celebrate their European Championship victory over Germany, the first time the country has won a major football tournament in 44 years

Football and nationalism the Balkan way by HAJRUDIN SOMUN

I do not consider myself a football fan, but like millions of others, I have been riveted to the TV screen watching the European championship during these warm June days. Who can avoid the fanatic atmosphere created around the second most important thing in the world?

 

The A-Z of UEFA EURO 2008™

euro2008.com casts its mind back over the past month – from Arshavin to Zidane with detours via kidney transplants, Turkish comebacks and naked walks in the park.

 

Continue reading ""Spaniards celebrate Euro 2008 win" »

June 28, 2008

Runkel: Why everybody should hope for a German success in the final?

Why everybody should hope for a German success in the final

Michael Ballack

Let me first say: I have been watching German football teams on TV since I was nine, that was in 1958. I had my fair share of great victories and crushing defeats, so I have seen enough to be more or less unconcerned who will win this final. Nevertheless there is one good reason why I, and not only I but everybody else in the world should support the Germans. The reason is the captain of our team, Michael Ballack. He will be 32 in September and this final might be his last chance to win an international title. He hasn’t got one so far, no, he has won so many Vice-Championships (the last one with Chelsea) that every team, having him as a player must fear him as a bearer of some bad spell.

Continue reading "Runkel: Why everybody should hope for a German success in the final?" »

June 26, 2008

"Who Will the Turks Cheer Now? - Christian offers consolation:

Erkan was not devastated after the game. We could win but at least there was good play and a promising football future. In the end, Turkey made a good scene in this tournament; demonstrated a spirited play...

Christian Runkel:

 

Peace in Turk-Almanistan

I watched the game sitting next to 12 year old Sinan and that is why I
could not completely rejoice in the German victory. It is so sad to see
a child disappointed. The photo is taken during the break when it was
still 1 - 1. Sinan is standing behind me and trying to put me under his
Turkish flag.

Next to him was Mevlut the one with the half-moon and star painted on
his cheeks. I still carry some red greasepaint on my forearm, from
hugging him after the game. Turks are good loosers, so there was a lot
of shaking hands clapping shoulders and even hugging when the game was
over.

The room where we watched belonged to a Turkish Association in downtown
Solingen, only a few hundred meters away from where in 1993 a Turkish
family was burnt to death by some crazy young Germans. That day is still
in the hearts and minds of many people here, but yesterday night it was
centuries away. These German Turks were obviously an undisputed living
part of Solingen and rooted here, they watched the game over German TV,
the youngsters naturally talked German with each other and shouted their
wishes, commands and condemnations for the Turkish players in German to
the screen.

When the game was over there was a mixed feeling that "we Turks" had
lost but also that "we Germans" had won. I hope that in the end this
will take away some of Sinan's disappointment. Sunday in Vienna he will
together with Millions of German Turks support the Ballack team, Sinan's
and my team.

The police had blocked some of the streets in downtown Solingen to keep
the honking cars that drove "corso" through the night away from places
where they could block the traffic. Two officers helped me to find an
escape way to get out of town. They were obviously relaxed. No clashes,
no violence had occurred, there was peace in our little Turkish-German
world.

And a huge roundup:

Who Will the Turks Cheer Now? - TIME

By ANDREW PURVIS / BERLIN

The horns started sounding in the streets of Berlin eight hours before the opening whistle blew. For the better part of a week, German black, red and gold flags sprouted from car windows, clothes lines, window sills right across Germany. In Berlin, the schnell-bahn rapid transit line was taken over by chanting fans, draped in national colors, swigging half-liter bottles of beer and singing for their teams victory. One half a million Berliners converged on the Brandenburg Gate in the historic center of the old capital to watch the game on giant screens. As in 2006, when Berlin hosted soccer's World Cup, a country not given to displays of national pride (since the Second World War) allowed itself to feel good about being German."

Cruel end for Terim's miracle men

In UEFA EURO 2008™

Turkey's remarkable UEFA EURO 2008™ adventure had plenty of magic and mystery but even they could not conjure up one last miracle against Germany in Basel.

Continue reading ""Who Will the Turks Cheer Now? - Christian offers consolation:" »

June 25, 2008

"Match divides Turkish migrants' loyalties

Match divides Turkish migrants' loyalties

The large Turkish community in Kreuzberg, Berlin will be showing support for both sides in the European championship semi-final football match between Germany and Turkey


A German and two Turkish flags are tightened between houses ...
AP

A German and two Turkish flags are tightened between houses in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, June 24, 2008. Germany will meet Turkey in the semi-final of the Euro 2008 soccer championships on Wednesday, June 25, 2008.

(AP Photo/Franka Bruns)

Continue reading ""Match divides Turkish migrants' loyalties" »

June 24, 2008

"UEFA has no problems if Terim want to play goalkeeper upfront (!)

'Who else has such great heart?'

The car horns and klaxons sounded late into the night as delirious Turkey fans took to the streets to celebrate their team's remarkable progress to the quarter-finals.

Preview of Germany vs Turkey Semi-Final Match

By Ahmet Turgut

Hamit holds key for Turkey
The German-born versatile midfielder, who plays his club football for German champions Bayern Munich, has been used by Terim in different roles -- wherever he needed a solid player who was prepared to go the extra mile.

Continue reading ""UEFA has no problems if Terim want to play goalkeeper upfront (!)" »

June 03, 2008

As 4 days left for EURO 2008, Orhan Pamuk doesn't get it...



You know I love his novels, but he doesn't get it. What he says about football is one of the oldest intellectualist clichés. It is a simplistic reductionism he makes... He simply misses the complexities of football fandom.... Felt sorry for him:)


NOBEL PRIZE WINNER PAMUK:"Turkish football fosters nationalism"

By Ahmet Turgut

Nobel winner Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk says football(soccer) in Turkey serves nationalist and xenophobic thinking, but he would still be supporting the country's team at Euro 2008. Pamuk said in an interview with the Germany's weekly Der Spiegel magazine that football(soccer) in Turkey had become "a machine for the production of nationalism, xenophobia and authoritarian thought."

Continue reading "As 4 days left for EURO 2008, Orhan Pamuk doesn't get it..." »

June 02, 2008

Erkan's personal items (!)



I very much enjoy the psychobilly tagged songs in Lastfm. Just had made a CD collection of psychobilly songs (very much thanks to Ceren Mert), so that i can also listen to them out loud in my car.

Another happy moment in recent days was my talk in Dutch Consulate to a group of visiting police officers from Netherlands. I seem to have to done all right in the talk and when I went back there for a cocktail next day with Hans, I seemed to have gotten good feedback about the talk.

The eseminar went well too. It was a relatively lively discussion. You can get all the discussion text soon here.

My application to Encyclopedia Britannica was accepted and for one year I will be able to link Britannica Online articles and when you click on those links, you will be able to read them for free.

A low moment last week was that our lovely fan group Çarşı officially ended its existence. Recently I had reactivated my Beşiktaş blog and you can read the latest developments there and own long portrayal of the end of Çarşı (all in Turkish, sorry). It feels like being an orphan with the official end of Çarşı but it was coming, i had observed it for a long time now...
      Here is some of the related news on Çarşı:


Çarşı puts an end to its 25-year-long story
Turkish Daily News (subscription) - Ankara,Turkey
Turkish football agenda is shaken with the most influential fan group's decision to disband, as Beşiktaş's Çarşı declares it is splitting. ...

Çarşı puts an end to its 25-year-long story

On the 25th year of its birth, Turkey's most organized and influential football fan group, Çarşı of Beşiktaş has disbanded, its leader Alen Markaryan declared Tuesday night. Speaking...

Since the beginning of my new times of anti-socialization, I tend to read a lot and play a lot and watch a lot- how could I live otherwise? Just finished Prof. Featherstone's Consumer Culture and Postmodernism.

For the last edition, Prof. Featherstone added a new preface and a new last chapter. These new additions are quite strong and make the book updated for current debates. One will not find fancy theoretical concepts to focus on but the author emphatically points out a sociological understanding of postmodernism. In that sense, it works. The reader is urged to think about the sociological validity of postmodern theories. Since most of the chapters were written at least 15 years ago, the literature seems to be old but the discussion is still up to date and as i said in the beginning the author informs us about the recent literature on the field in his additions for the last edition...
This week i have an intellectual agenda:
There is a fantastic list of participants in this organization that will last all week:

Check out the program here.

Funny thing is that although this event takes place in our university, those colleagues who are involved in it, did not bother to inform us until last Friday. I take it a typical narrow mindedness of academism. After such pressure, it was announced in our mailings lists. Erkan takes note of this attempt to hiding knowledge.

Finally,
Erkan is planning to do some minor changes in the blog main page but he will announce it anyway.

May 21, 2008

Tonight's fun: Champions League final...

Another season is over in Turkish super league, Beşiktaş leaving us pointless for the future seasons. Whatever the case, I am determined to return and so i will buy the season ticket as soon as it is released. In the mean time, let's enjoy the final today.

I have been passing more and more time in my office and warming up my writing camp here for the summer.  Last night I left here at 11 pm but i guess I will be earlier today.

Atmosphere gains momentum ahead of Moscow final

As the kick-off for the biggest prize in European club football draws nearer, English fans soak up the atmosphere in Moscow

Manchester United, Chelsea well matched in historic Champions League final

Manchester United vs. Chelsea at the Luzhniki Stadium tonight effectively means that the Premier League has come to Russia, the first time two English teams have met in the final of European

Continue reading "Tonight's fun: Champions League final..." »

May 10, 2008

A Saturday afternoon post

This is from a Judas Priest album cover. An attacking eagle, I imagine. Just suits to the day of Beşiktaş' last game this year. If things go smoothly, this will be the last game in our Inönü stadium as we know it. There will be a huge renovation due to start this summer.

Erkan is in an unusual depression nowadays. I shouldn't feel lonely, but i felt a intensive loneliness recently and yesterday I slept all day and did not go out. After my morning class, i rushed back home, dozed off while watching some Ealing Comedies.  I got up at midnight and stayed awake until early morning.

Now we are out, Nurdan and I, have bought some presents for mum and an aunt who is visiting mum, and now we are having a rest in Cevahir's Starbucks.      

 

Continue reading "A Saturday afternoon post" »

May 05, 2008

Galatasaray, scheduled to be the champion in a week...

Another season ends next week. Beşiktaş has lost its hopes a while ago, FB, GS and Sivasspor struggled for the championship. GS defeated FB and Sivasspor in the last two weeks and very probably they will get the championship next week. BJK was never promising but it is also highly believed that BJK was the most exposed Istanbul team to referee errors. Alas, whatever the case, we shouldn't have lost the game against FB. Now, i am warming up for the last game next week, which will be stress-free and full of drunkenness.

GALATASARAY ONE STEP CLOSER TO TURKEY TITTLE

By Ahmet Turgut


LOOKS LIKE GALATASARAY WILL CLAIM THE TURKEY CHAMPIONSHIP...

Galatasaray beat title hopeful and "my team of the year" Sivasspor in an away match 5-3 on Sunday and assured the Turkey Turkcell Super League soccer title.

 

BJK fans in Bursaspor game that took place in Adana... 

Continue reading "Galatasaray, scheduled to be the champion in a week..." »

April 27, 2008

What do Turks do in Irvine on a Sunday morning?

They all find a place to watch the derby of the year. I and Metin ended up in a Turkish association to watch the game. It was 9 in the morning and we were sitting in front of a giant screen.

 

GALATASARAY WINS THE DERBY MATCH IN TURKEY....

By Ahmet Turgut


Galatasaray players celebrate their 1-0 win over archrivals Fenerbahce with their fans after their Turkish Super League derby soccer match at Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul April 27, 2008.(REUTERS)

Galatasary beat Fenerbahce 1-0 in a derby game in Istanbul on Sunday night to grab a serious advantage to win the Turkcell Super League title two weeks before the end of the season.

 

 

 

 

Some other and older Turkish Super League related links:

Continue reading "What do Turks do in Irvine on a Sunday morning?" »

March 29, 2008

Towards a breakdown...

It has been two weeks now that I wake up with a list of things to do and stressed immediately as they cannot be done that day.

31 March and 1 April are deadlines for several significant conferences and i still cannot react.

Towards the end of April, I am invited to a talk in US and i haven't started visa renewal tasks which is a real burden. At least my paper is ready for that:)

There are two related projects on Hate Speech issues and one is pressing as I have to prepare a project proposal real soon.

My dissertation writing has really slowed down recently.

A paper has to be started to be revised for EASA Media network.

Tens of emails to be replied.

AND some more spontanous issues. In the last two days, i did not like my performance in teaching. Fridays are very loaded. Six hours of teaching in two courses. The previous Friday was fantastic. But yesterday in my Rhetoric course, nothing productive:(

Daily traffic stress. Financial problems at existential levels (!) blah blah blah

And in exactly 5 hours, there comes another BJK-FB derby!!! Because of all these stress sources, I could not even be excited for the game:( Well, i cannot attend the game. Dammit why I haven't bought the season pass! And state of Beşiktaş is so miserable. FB is the favorite of the game....

 

and friends. Well, there are at least good friends i have.      

Continue reading "Towards a breakdown..." »

March 05, 2008

Not the best night for Sevilla...


 

and not for GS and BJK fans. Now FB people will boast forever:) And not a good night for Ahmet Çakar:) Mr. Çakar, a prominent football commentator, had unfortunately declared that he would wear bikinis if FB eliminated Sevilla. And that happened last night. Now fake photos spread in the net:

 

Turkey heralds Fenerbahce as new giant of Europe | Breaking News | guardian.co.uk Football

Continue reading "Not the best night for Sevilla..." »

March 03, 2008

After 137 weeks!

 As Ahmet Turgut says it is hard to believe. Since the beginning of my active support for Beşiktaş it is the very first time I see that Beşiktaş tops the Super League. After one hundred and thirty seven weeks, Beşiktaş JK reached the top position. Now let me hope for the championship!

 

hehehe Çarşı cover intro page after the game... 

BESIKTAS ON TOP OF THE TURKISH TURKCELL SUPER LEAGUE

By Ahmet Turgut


Believe it or not!.......After Fenerbahce struggling thsi week and Galatasaray losing to Besiktas Today , Besiktas is the top team with 52 points

Current standing:                                    (Games played * Points)

1.BEŞİKTAŞ A.Ş. 24 52
2.GALATASARAY A.Ş. 24 51
3.FENERBAHÇE 24 51
4.SİVASSPOR 24 51
5.KAYSERİSPOR 24 45
6.TRABZONSPOR A.Ş. 24 32
7.DENİZLİSPOR 24 30
8.GENÇLERBİRLİĞİ OFTAŞSPOR 24 29
9.MKE ANKARAGÜCÜ 24 29
10.GENÇLERBİRLİĞİ 24 28
11.KONYASPOR 24 28
12.BURSASPOR 24 27
13.GAZİANTEPSPOR 24 27
14.BÜYÜKŞEHİR BLD.SPOR 24 26
15.ANKARASPOR A.Ş. 24 24
16.ÇAYKUR RİZESPOR 24 23
17.VESTEL MANİSASPOR 24 22
18.KASIMPAŞA 24 16

 

 older news:

Continue reading "After 137 weeks!" »

February 28, 2008

"GALATASARAY ELIMINATES FENERBAHCE IN FORTIS CUP

The referee intervened too much but i don't know if he was unfair most of the time. Still fenerbahçe fans including my dear friend Çetin are absolutely angry with him. In the mean time, Beşiktaş was also eliminated yesterday:(

 Getting ready for Sunday's derby against Galatasaray. Beşiktaş fan group recommends the fans not to get drunk before the game in order to be alert and supportive during the game. "Official drink of the game is Tea"

GALATASARAY ELIMINATES FENERBAHCE IN FORTIS CUP

By Ahmet Turgut

Galatasaray beat Fenerbahce 2-1 in an Istanbul derby Wednesday night and eliminated its arch rival in the Turkish Federeation Cup.

Continue reading ""GALATASARAY ELIMINATES FENERBAHCE IN FORTIS CUP" »

February 16, 2008

Back to the stadium

In another bad weather I decide to join the crowds in İnönü. It is snowing in Istanbul. I will now rush to Taksim to deal with some annoying visa issues (I am applying for Belgium visa) and after that I will go to Beşiktaş to have the routine after a few months. I was in the game with Sivasspor in the first half and since then I am away from the stadium. With last week's defeat to Kayserispor, Beşiktaş shows signs of instability again- which is also a routine- and it is thus the hard times again that I should stand by Beşiktaş:)

 

In the mean time, we had a faculty party last night and here are some more photos from the event.  

And there is an important development in Turkish football:  

NEW ERA AND NEW BOSS IN TURKISH FOOTBALL(SOCCER)!...

By Ahmet Turgut




Hasan Dogan has been elected the 37th president of the Turkish Football(soccer) Association (TFF)in Ankara....

Continue reading "Back to the stadium" »

January 27, 2008

Sivasspor proves to be a farce...

 Sivasspor lost the game against Fenerbahçe: 1-4. As my dear blogger friend Ahmet Turgut asked yesterday if Sivasspor was real, we have seen that they were not. In fact, they can still make it, they can still be champions, but losing like that against FB is considerable. After playing their best to other Istanbul teams, it is considerable how they lose against FB....

some older news follow... 

 Socccer-Fenerbahce hand Sivasspor first home defeat of season | Reuters

Continue reading "Sivasspor proves to be a farce..." »

December 23, 2007

Beşiktaş; the best league performance in four years...

Besiktas reached 34 points at the half of the season

By zenziyan


Eagles kept up the pressure at the top of the Turkish Super Lig with a 2-1 victory at Manisaspor.

Beşiktaş defeats Vestel Manisa Spor by 2-1

Sabah - Turkey

Beşiktaş has defeated Vestel Manisa Spor by 2-1 in the Turkish Premier League on Friday night. In the 24th minute of the game, Manisa Spor player Uğur ...

 

[A little biased towards FB as the author is a FB fan but still worth reading:

By Emre Kizilkaya

You can see it if you study the main fan group, Carsi. They have a motto which is being used as a template: Carsi is Against ..... (fill in the blanks). They are against everything, including themselves. * The club represents the local, ...

 

Continue reading "Beşiktaş; the best league performance in four years..." »

December 11, 2007

FC Porto v Besiktas tonight!

Ertugrul Saglam focused on victory!..FC Porto v Besiktas: Preview

Porto welcome Besiktas on Tuesday night knowing that a point will be enough to see them through to the knockout stage of the Champions League.

Just two points separate the Portuguese side, who top Group A, and Besiktas at the foot of the table, with one round of matches remaining.

 

This is a view from Bursa game last week. BJK administrators are surrounded by security forces in a terrorized city:

Source: Milliyet 

This is a good news, a change in the league: Sivasspor new leader in Turkish Super League Nobody believes they can be champions in the end, but even this performance is great.... Congratulations Sivas!

All Beşiktaş related news below:

Continue reading "FC Porto v Besiktas tonight!" »

December 07, 2007

"No Beşiktaş fans at Bursa away

In less than an hour, Bursaspor-Beşiktaş game will start. Two days ago the Bursa Provincial Sports Security Committee decided that Beşiktaş fans will not be allowed to the game because of security reasons. Bursa is one of the major cities of Turkey. However, a well-organized Bursaspor fan group can terrorize the whole city and the security officials just give in to their violence...

No Beşiktaş fans at Bursa away

 In the mean tiem, Platini states that "No probe on Liverpool-Besiktas game. Michel Platini has confirmed that Liverpool's 8-0 thrashing of Besiktas in the Champions League is not part of uefa's investigation into match fixing ...

November 29, 2007

"BESIKTAS STILL ALIVE!....

BESIKTAS STILL ALIVE!....




Brazilian Bobo's late goal earned Besiktas a 2-1 win over Olympique Marseille in their Champions League Group A match on Wednesday to keep alive the Turkish team's hopes of reaching the last 16.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only Beşiktaş can do this. In the last game, he will either pass the group stage or will be eliminated totally. I was hoping maybe he could have the 3rd position in the group standing and could continue in UEFA cup that cannot happen technically. Even a draw will not be enought. In an away game, Beşiktaş will have to defeat Porto... Well, whatever happens in the last game, Beşiktaş last night showed it is not all dead. The first 20 minutes in the beginning of second half was terrible. That helplessly defensive playing kills me. And they could resume their better play only after Marseille scored... Anyway, it was a good moment for the end of the day...

Group APldPts
Porto58
Marseille57
Liverpool57
Beşiktaş56

 

Continue reading ""BESIKTAS STILL ALIVE!...." »

November 28, 2007

Beşiktaş plays against Marseille tonight...

 

We have been penalized again. Beşiktaş will play the next Turkish super  league game without fans....

 

Beşiktaş Eagles must win and hope Reds and Porto draw

Today's Zaman - Istanbul,Turkey
The Beşiktaş Black Eagles host French side Olympique Marseille in their UEFA Champions League Group A encounter at istanbul's inonü Stadium this evening, ...

 Nobody here sees this as a problem, but i guess games with Armenia will be quiet interesting:

TURKEY AND ARMENIA Share Group 5 for FIFA World Cup


GROUP 5 (FIFA ranking)
SPAIN (4)
TÜRKİYE (16)
BELGIUM (49)
BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA (51)
ARMENIA (90)
ESTONIA (128)

 

November 26, 2007

Beşiktaş fans, the most loyal and the most agressive...

 

According a recent survey among the fans of three major football clubs, Beşiktaş, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş fans are found to be the most agressive and loyal:) The researchers, (Bahçeşehir Üniversitesi Research Assistant) Gülberk Gültekin Salman and İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi (Research Assistant) Caner Giray, also found out that the most dangerous fans are those single and widows. Well, what is left? I am not sure about that:) Here is the story in Turkish.

Continue reading "Beşiktaş fans, the most loyal and the most agressive..." »

November 19, 2007

EU 'should grow beyond Europe'

EU 'should grow beyond Europe'

The UK foreign secretary says the EU should work towards including countries from the Middle East and North Africa.


Breaking out of the vicious circle of EU politics

The scope of EU decision-making must be enlarged if Europe is to "break out of the vicious circle of always waiting for a miracle to fall out of the sky", writes Daniel Cohn-Bendit, co-president of the Greens group in the European Parliament, in the autumn edition of .Europe's World

France faces fifth day of strikes

French rail workers reject a new offer of talks, voting to extend industrial action over pension reforms.

Sarkozy squares up to France's unions

If the president is to succeed where others have failed, he cannot let unions pick and choose à la carte. That would undermine his credibility

Europe's top football clubs to form new association

Europe's 18 richest football clubs have launched negotiations to create a new independent organisation, which would fully represent clubs' interests with football governing bodies, the European Commission and other key stakeholders.

Continue reading "EU 'should grow beyond Europe'" »

November 13, 2007

"Football: Euro Cup plan rejected

Football: Euro Cup plan rejected

Domestic cup winners will not play in the Champions League after a proposal from Uefa chief Michel Platini was rejected, BBC Sport learns.

Football supporters demonstrate in front of Italian TV RAI in Milan 11/11/07

Gabriele Sandri was shot by police after a skirmish broke out between fans of Rome's Lazio and Turin team Juventus at a motorway stop in Tuscany.

 Italy fans rampage after killing

Italian football fans react violently inside and outside stadiums to the police shooting of a Lazio supporter.

In the mean time,  

Fans' community website MyFootballClub has agreed a deal to take over Blue Square Premier outfit Ebbsfleet United.

The 20,000 MyFootballClub members have each paid £35 to provide a £700,000 takeover pot and they will all own an equal share in the club.

November 10, 2007

After 8-0, updated

Beşiktaş'ın Liverpool hezimeti tişört oldu

 

DISASTER FOR BESIKTAS IN LIVERPOOL ..... 8-0

I TOLD YOU SO! ....here is what I wrote after Fenerbahce match......
Looking at both of the teams last night, before the big games in the Champions League , both teams defense and goal keepers looked really bad!..... Let me say it again, Big teams need a good goal keepers!....Did you see Hakan Arikan ,yesterday on second goal!.... he dropped the ball, on a cross and Semih scored the second goal....give me a brake!.....this was another factor, why Besiktas lost yesterday, besides the referee Ismet Arzuman. Fenerbahce did not deserve to win the match yesterday......

 Well, back in track. Beşiktaş and its fans lived some of their most depressive days of recent years. The team that played against Liverpool had lost all its willpower. There was not a trace of professionalism. The players, even the foreign ones, are even more emotional than we, the fans, were. Liverpool could defeat us in anyway; there is an inevitabile quality difference. But the way we were defeated was a real embarassement. What is overlooked after this embarassing moment is that Beşiktaş had lost another game 3 days before the Liverpool one with utmost unfairness. Except from Fenerbahçe fans, football public in Turkey agrees on the fact that the referee of the game was beyond acceptable unfairness. But these gross violations happen with impunity in Turkish football and who will be feeling this more than the players themselves?

In a rainy day, we are back to İnönü. The game against Sivasspor starts in 3 hours. Let it be a fresh start...

update:

  Beşiktaş fans turn their backs on the team
Today's Zaman - Istanbul,Turkey

It's not as if the Beşiktaş team has not suffered defeats and setbacks in Europe in the past. But the humiliating 8-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool last ...

Beşiktaş fans call on president to resign [FINALLY!]

Hürriyet - Turkey
As thousands of Beşiktaş fans demand that club president Yıldırım Demirören resign, Demirören has replied by saying, "Whatever may happen, ...

Continue reading "After 8-0, updated" »

November 07, 2007

So deeply....

Via: Hürriyet

Football: Reds thrash Besiktas

A rampant Liverpool beat Besiktas to keep their Champions League campaign alive.

 

November 04, 2007

A proud loss in Kadıköy

 In an apparently corrupt act, the referee cancelled our last minute goal and we lost the game against FB. Well, it is either FB or GS always, Beşiktaş does not enough lobbying power to win in this corrupt Turkish league...

 

Via Hürriyet.

For a few more photos from the game click here.  

FENERBAHCE "LEAPFROG" BESIKTAS!........

Here is my take, on the whole game that played on Saturday. There is saying in every language" If you can't score, they will score on you" that is exactly what happened to Besiktas yesterday.

Young Batuhan and Bobo missed a chances to tied the match. As far as the goal called back by referee Ismet Arzuman, it was a goal!....He said "he whistled and called foul on Besiktas before the goal"...

October 26, 2007

More on the Liverpool victory

Besiktas - Liverpool 24-10-2007 Champions League 2 - 1


Very serious stuff is going on around but i can't help having a break from the hard news. I am already under the pressure of paper deadline. Lemme enjoy a bit more.

livo-fanatik.jpg

Towards the end, there is some good shotage from our party time- and the soundtrack is original (!) :

Continue reading "More on the Liverpool victory" »