Monday's heated derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce in the Turkish top flight was temporarily suspended by the referee after a group like fans threw torches at rival supporters.
The tensions were already at the boiling point for the historic derby, with both sets of players who refused to shake their hand on the field in Rams Park, Galatasaray's Home Stadium, in Istanbul.
Referee Slavko Vincic was forced to stop the fiercely tested collision in the 52nd minute after a group of Fenerbahce fans reportedly started launching rockets to Galatasaray supporters.
Allegedly there were a total of 30,000 police officers in the stadium and, according to the Turkish outlet Hurriyet, managed to get control of the crowd back enough for the game to continue.
The relevant scenes in the stands overshadowed the action on the field, such as Galatasaray and Fenerbahce were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw, with the side of Jose Mourinho not able to claw back in the super lounger race .
The decision of the Turkish football federation to appoint VINCIC, a foreign referee, was supported by Mourinho, who praised the Slovenian as a 'top level' officer.
Allegedly Galatasaray tried to block the appointment of Vincic, even though he separated the final from the Champions League last year.
In anticipation of the derby, the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham manager said: 'The decision was made and he is a top-level referee, I think it is important for credibility.
“I am happy with this decision. Although it may not seem that way, I am a person who wants honest play. We want to win, they want to win. I hope it will be a big match. '
The visitors, who left six points in second place, had the best chance of the game in the 67th minute when the corner of Filip Kostic was met through the head of Alexander Dijku.
Until the frustration of Mourinho and his players, Galatasaray's veteran -goalkeeper Fernando Muslera deducted an excellent double rescue, first the Dijku header before he denied Edin Dzeko's efforts on the rebound.
The instincts of Muslera helped Galatasaray so far have been unbeaten in the Super Lig, with 20 victories and four draws of 24 games to date.
The stalemate places Okan Buruk's in full control in the title race while Galatasaray chases this campaign a third consecutive championship.
Mourinho's Fenerbahce-Gastheer Rangers in the first stage of their Europa League Last-16 draw on March 6 before he went to the Ibrox seven days later.
Comments