Chapter 36: The Atypical Mallorca
As Galatasaray fans were busy hanging banners in the stands, preparing their drums, and setting up fireworks, they were startled to see something unexpected. The opposing team, who should have appeared on the pitch for warm-ups half an hour later, was already on the field.
"Haha, those Spanish cowards! What are they doing here so early? Do they want to lose faster? Fools! Two hours from now, you'll be crying as you leave Istanbul!"
"Spanish idiots! Do you have no sense of time? No wonder you can't even qualify for the Champions League group stage. You don't deserve four Champions League spots!"
The stands erupted with jeers and insults. Soon, someone took the lead, and fireworks began lighting up across the stands. A deep drumbeat sounded from one corner, quickly igniting the entire stadium's atmosphere.
Sparks of fireworks flickered in every corner, creating a haze of smoke that filled the arena. Drumbeats echoed from all directions, accompanied by waves of curses and screams from every part of the stands.
The Galatasaray fans weren't entirely mindless, nor were they oblivious to the oddity of the situation. However, since the live broadcast hadn't started yet—the match was over an hour away—they saw this as an opportunity to intimidate the visiting players. The goal? To scare Mallorca's squad so much that their legs would turn to jelly, gifting an easy victory to the home team.
With forty thousand seats in Ali Sami Yen Stadium filled to capacity, the atmosphere was electric. Aside from the thousand or so Mallorca fans who had traveled for the away game, the rest were die-hard Galatasaray supporters. Facing such a sea of hostility, the Mallorca fans wisely chose to remain quiet—for now. They would wait until the match began before making any moves.
Spanish fans rarely got into trouble abroad. They tended to travel in groups, reducing the likelihood of incidents. By contrast, English fans often traveled solo, leading to conflicts. With their infamous reputation for hooliganism and drinking, English fans frequently found themselves in brawls or in police custody.
This season, the UEFA Cup had already seen tragedy when Leeds fans were killed on the streets of Istanbul, escalating tensions between English and Turkish national teams. The aftermath even led to Aston Villa releasing Alpay Özalan after his infamous provocation of Beckham in Istanbul.