Football
The competitive nature of football in Turkey, as in many other countries, is reflected among the fans. The situation even gets physical from time to time. However, many fans put aside these unpleasant attitudes and feelings during the Gezi Park protests with a spirit of unity and solidarity. Fans of rival teams came together and chanted slogans in unison to demonstrate the unifying "Gezi spirit" against the perceived divisiveness of the government.
Individual fan groups also took part in the protests under their own banners. The most prominent of these was the famous Beşiktaş supporters' group Çarşı, which was already known for its anarchist and socialist political activism. The group came into the limelight on June 3 when its members hijacked an excavator from the construction site of the new Beşiktaş stadium and used it to drive police forces out of the area after clashes throughout the day.
All images
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Football fans in Izmir Two men supporting Karşıyaka and Göztepe, two rival football teams from Izmir province, have climbed up a pole and are expressing their support for the teams to show unity. The photo was taken during a protest to support Gezi in Izmir. Such supporting protests were organized all over Turkey. -
Istanbul United Three men are wearing the jerseys of three rival football teams from Istanbul: Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray and Beşiktaş. They are walking arm in arm as part of a protest. -
Four football fans The people in the photo are wearing fan apparel of the four biggest football clubs in Turkey, which are normally known for their fierce rivalry. This was a common sight at Gezi, supporters of different teams appearing together to display the fraternal "spirit of Gezi". -
Anti-capitalist Muslims praying The photo shows a group of Muslims praying in Gezi Park during the protests. The group is part of "Anti-capitalist Muslims", one of the most prominent interest groups that formed during the protests. The man in the front is İhsan Eliaçık, a theologian and the group's founder. -
Çarşı ampule karşı / Allahını seven defansa gelsin The graffiti on the left references the Beşiktaş football team fan group Çarşı. "Çarşı ... karşı" (Çarşı is against ...) was sort of a meme at the time due to the rhyme and Çarşı being known for their disorderly tendencies. The lightbulb refers to the logo of the ruling party AKP. The graffiti on the right jokingly repeats a line that is often used in amateur (especially children's) football games. It analogizes the defense line in football to front defense in the riots.