Beşiktaş board announces players to not take field on May 3 against Fenerbahce after derby called off due to violence
The Beşiktaş board on Thursday decided not to take the field against Fenerbahce on May 3, contesting the Turkish Football Federation's decision to continue with the match.
On April 19, the Istanbul derby football game was called off due to violence after Beşiktaş Manager Senol Güneş got injured by objects flung from the stands of Fenerbahce's Ülker Stadium.
The Ziraat Turkish Cup's semifinal second leg was postponed at the 57th minute and Turkish Football Federation decided on Wednesday the match will continue where it left off on May 3, but with no fans in attendance.
In a written statement released via Beşiktaş football club's official Twitter account on Thursday evening, the club said it had decided not to take the field.
"We have always been on the pitch for 115 years, winning, losing or drawing on the pitch. For not accepting to lose with decisions, we will not be on the pitch on May 3, Thursday," the statement said.
The first leg at Beşiktaş' home ground, Vodafone Park, had ended 2-2.
Akhisarspor are the first squad to reach the cup final after eliminating Galatasaray.
