Istanbul Derby by Aidan and Nathan

We have been studying “Divided City” by Thresa Breslin and so for our blog we decided to focus on football. We chose to research The Istanbul Derby because it shows a major contrast between two classes, the wealthy and the working class. The two clubs which compete in the derby are Galatasaray and Fenerbahce. The clubs have very interesting heritage and amazing stories. Their stories are very similar to the Old Firm derby, the biggest in Scottish football, which appears in “Divided City”

In the Istanbul derby there are two classes: the wealthy and the working. Galatasaray was formed from a prestigious private school called Galatasaray Academy. To start with, only the wealthy could play for Galatasaray. On the other hand, Fernerbahce was formed by a group of poor locals to give the less fortunate a chance. However, they couldn’t play league football due to a Turkish ban. Eventually the ban was lifted and Fenerbache could play league games.

Fener choreo by Avl Tm (cropped) [Licence: (CC BY-NC 2.0]

The first game between the two clubs was held on the 17th January, 1909. At this point, the two clubs weren’t rivals. The infamous rivalry really began when Fenerbahce won the first non-domestic cup match .

Since 1909 there as been a series of heated events in the rivalry including riots and the moment that Graham Souness planted a Galatasary flag in Fenerabahce’s home stadium during a match in 1996.The 200 UEFA cup riots involved the English side Arsenal and Galatasary it was nicknamed the battle for Copenhagen there was  stabbings and shootings despite there being 2000 officers.      

Tension really gathered when, in 2013 after a heated match where Fenerbahce came out victors over their rivals Galatasary, a young boy was stabbed to death by a group of Galatasary ultras.

The Istanbul derby is an event of controversy and tension but something that plays a major part in the derby  is over-looked: the football. Fenerbahce won their last meeting but the two clubs have played some amazing football. Galatasary have one more Super Lig title though and, as it stands, Fenerbahce are seven points ahead of Galatasary (2015/16) and are on course to win the league. If they win they will go equal on Super Lig titles with Galatasary. To conclude, Galatasary and  are apart of what could be the most intense rivalry in the history of football. They will next compete against each other on March 20th 2016.

Galatasaray badge by Federico Mera [Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0]

History of the Istanbul Derby – Fenerbahce vs Galatasaray: http://www.sportskeeda.com/football/history-istanbul-derby-fenerbahce-galatasaray – 21//11/15

Arsenal 0-0 Galatasaray: http://www.arseweb.com/99-00/reports/170500.html – 23/11/15