Ekrem İmamoğlu intervened: Flag crisis at the Trabzonspor-Beşiktaş final
The flag dispute that occurred before the Turkish Cup final between Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor caused tension in the protocol area, leading to an intervention by Beşiktaş President Hasan Arat. Ekrem İmamoğlu stepped in.
12punto
A flag crisis occurred before the Turkish Cup final played between Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor. Beşiktaş Club President Hasan Arat pulled on a Trabzonspor flag that was draped in front of him, leading to tense moments in the protocol area.
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and his wife Dilek İmamoğlu, Beşiktaş Club President Hasan Arat, Trabzonspor Club President Ertuğrul Doğan, Minister of Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, and Turkish Football Federation President Mehmet Büyükekşi took their places in the protocol area to watch the massive final played at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium.
Just as the national anthem was about to be played before the start of the match, the protocol area suddenly became chaotic. A burgundy-blue flag was draped from the section where Trabzonspor fans were concentrated toward the protocol tribune.
Beşiktaş Club President Hasan Arat wanted to push aside the flag that was blocking his view. When Arat could not succeed, he pulled the flag downward. At that moment, he was met with reactions from Trabzonspor officials present in the protocol area.
While Arat engaged in a verbal argument with those who were shouting at him, he was calmed down with difficulty by IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.