Thankfully, there were no injuries
A flare in the Galatasaray end at the Etihad(Image: PA)
A Galatasaray fan who hurled a flare towards Manchester City supporters during Wednesday’s Champions League game at the Etihad Stadium has been slapped with a football banning order.
Berkan Erturk, 22, was identified and arrested as supporters left the stadium after the match. Erturk was subsequently charged with two offences under the Football (Offences) Act 1991. He appeared at Manchester and Salford magistrates’ court on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to charges of possessing a flare and throwing it.
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Greater Manchester Police said Erturk, whose address isn’t known, was sentenced to a three-year banning order and ordered to pay almost £650 in fines and court costs. The force said thankfully, there were no injuries reported.
Images taken at the match show flares were let off by Galatasaray fans before the game kicked off, with smoke lingering above the pitch.
In a statement on Thursday, GMP said: “At around 9.35pm, a flare was thrown across the segregation line towards home fans at the Manchester City vs Galatasaray game. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Smoke from flares over the pitch(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
“As fans left the stadium, the man was identified and subsequently arrested by officers, before being taken into custody.
“This morning, he appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to possessing a flare and throwing it, receiving a three-year banning order and nearly £650 in fines and costs.”
Superintendent Kirsten Buggy, GMP’s Silver Commander for the game, said: “We will simply never tolerate this sort of behaviour at football games and will always take action to arrest those responsible for such dangerous acts.
“Officers acted robustly and diligently throughout the course of last night’s game, securing arrests and working with stewards to ensure the safety of those in attendance.”
Goals from Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki gave City a 2-0 victory over the side from Turkey. No other incidents were reported.