Istanbul United

The die-hard supporters of Istanbul’s top three football clubs—Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas—are renowned across Europe for their unwavering loyalty to their teams and their fierce rivalries, which have often led to intense and violent confrontations. The recent protest movement in Turkey, which began as an effort to save Gezi Park from being demolished, has evolved into a broader opposition against the ruling AK party. The harsh response of the police to peaceful demonstrators ignited a nationwide movement. In an unexpected turn of events, fans from these rival football clubs came together for a shared purpose for the first time. These football ultras are now standing united against the police, leveraging their experience in confrontations to assist protesters in dealing with tear gas and constructing barricades. They have named their coalition: Istanbul United.