Football: Besiktas refuse to take field on May 3

Besiktas board announces players to not take field on May 3 against Fenerbahce after derby called off due to violence

By Mehmet Fatih Duman

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Besiktas 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 Besiktas Manager Senol Gunes got injured by objects flung from the stands of Fenerbahce's Ulker 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 Besiktas 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 Besiktas' home ground, Vodafone Park, had ended 2-2.

Akhisarspor are the first squad to reach the cup final after eliminating Galatasaray.

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