Marseille’s Istanbul night will begin with an empty away end, but not a quiet one. Olympique de Marseille open their Europa League campaign at Besiktas on Thursday at 21:00, carrying a UEFA punishment from their final Champions League outing in Bruges.
Key takeaways
- Marseille supporters are barred from the away section for the Europa League opener at Besiktas.
- The sanction follows the use of flares during Marseille’s 3-0 defeat at Club Brugge on 28 January.
- UEFA also imposed a €25,000 fine after activating a previously suspended punishment.
- About 200 Marseille guests and commercial partners are still expected at the Tüpraş Stadium.
- Besiktas are preparing a sold-out stadium and an attempt to set a decibel record.
Why Marseille’s travelling support has been banned
The disciplinary outcome had been known by Marseille and their supporters since 19 February. Flares were lit during the defeat in Bruges, a result which ended the club’s Champions League campaign, and UEFA judged that the regulations had been breached.
A suspended penalty was subsequently enforced: Marseille cannot sell tickets for the designated visiting area at their next European fixture, while the club must pay a €25,000 fine. The consequence will be felt immediately in Istanbul, where the usual OM travelling enclosure will remain vacant.
There will nevertheless be a Marseille presence inside the ground. Around 200 invited guests and partners are expected to attend, as is customary for a European away match despite the ticket restriction.
French authorities do not expect major attempts to circumvent the measure, including from Marseille fans living in Turkey who could try to obtain tickets through the general sale. The intensity of a Besiktas home match is considered a deterrent rather than an invitation for supporters to force their way into the occasion.
A full Tüpraş Stadium awaits
The clubs have not met since 2007, and Marseille return to Istanbul to a stadium expected to be packed. Besiktas supporters are planning several pre-match displays, including an effort to push the noise level towards a decibel record.
Marseille midfielder Amine Harit, who spent last season on loan at Istanbul Basaksehir, recently described Turkish stadium atmospheres as fierce and highly hostile.
A regular at the Tüpraş Stadium, Emre, said the support reaches every part of the venue, including the expensive seats and VIP areas. If Besiktas are ahead or the contest remains in the balance, he expects the noise to make conversation between neighbours impossible, with the effect lingering in the ears for two or three hours afterwards.
He also warned that the atmosphere can change quickly. An early decisive turn in the match may drain the energy from the stands, while a poor Besiktas spell can bring frustration from their own supporters. Marseille will not have their usual travelling end, but they know the scale of the noise waiting for them.
SEO Title: Marseille face empty away end for Besiktas Europa League opener
SEO Description: Marseille will have no supporters in the away section at Besiktas after UEFA punished flare use in Bruges, though around 200 guests are expected in Istanbul.
