Imagine you run afoul of the law and the courts deem you worthy of conviction. How would you feel if your punishment was that you weren’t allowed to go to school/work unless you were there for school or work?
Late in the 2016-17 season, four members of Istanbul Başakşehir attacked a journalist. On Monday they received their punishment: they’re banned from attending a soccer match for a full year.
That might seem cruel and unusual for soccer players to be barred from going to a soccer game, but they’re only banned from attending games as spectators. They’re still able to continue their playing careers as they otherwise would.
Başakşehir finished second in the Turkish Super League to earn a spot in the third round of Champions League qualifying.
Somehow the team will have to cope with Volkan Babacan, Ufuk Ceylan and Mahmut Tekdemir unable to scout out the competition in person, surely a devastating blow to the team. (Yalcin Ayhan was also a part of the ban but has since transferred.)
Başakşehir will find out its opponent in the third round of the Champions League qualifying on Friday. No word if the aforementioned players will be banned from attending the draw in Switzerland.
The18 Recommends For You
