The penalties imposed for the controversial İzmir derby were finalized after 2 years.

In the case regarding the derby in which incidents occurred between Göztepe and Altay in İzmir, and Göztepe supporter Mehmet Çakır was injured by a flare, the 15-year prison sentence given to the detained defendant Furkan Ersanlı and the sentences of the other defendants who were not detained were upheld on appeal.

PENALTIES UPHELD AFTER 2 YEARS

In the derby played on November 27, 2022, between Göztepe and Altay, Göztepe supporter Mehmet Çakır was injured by a flare thrown from the Altay stands. During this time, Mehmet Nihat Aydın, who jumped onto the field from the Göztepe stands, hit Altay goalkeeper Ozan Evrim Özenç with a corner flag. The match was suspended due to the incidents. In the investigation initiated after the derby, Furkan Ersanlı, D.D., K.E., E.Y., H.Ç., M.E.K., A.G., H.K., M.Y., S.H., Ç.K., E.E., A.B., Ş.P., Ö.U., Ü.T., T.G., G.A.A., and E.K. from the Altay stands were arrested. U.M.K., F.Ö., Y.A., N.A.D., and F.E. were released under judicial control.

ONLY ONE DEFENDANT REMAINED DETAINED

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) declared both teams to have lost by default due to the incidents. After the investigation, a case was opened against the suspects at the İzmir 3rd High Criminal Court. In the indictment, the prosecutor emphasized that Furkan Ersanlı deliberately and systematically aimed and fired the flare towards the Göztepe stands, which were filled with thousands of people, committing the crimes of 'attempted murder', 'bringing and using dangerous items in sports areas and disrupting the order of the competition', and 'deliberately endangering general security'. A prison sentence of up to 23 years was requested for Ersanlı for these crimes. The prosecutor also requested that Ç.K., E.E., U.M.K., K.E., E.Y., D.D., H.Ç., M.E.K., S.H., A.B., A.G., H.K., Ö.U., Ş.P., Ü.T., T.G., G.A.A., E.K., M.Y., F.E., N.A.D., Y.A., and F.Ö. be punished for 'aiding attempted murder'. Additionally, it was requested that the defendants be punished for 'bringing dangerous items into sports areas', 'disrupting the order of the competition by using dangerous items in sports areas', and 'deliberately endangering general security'. Throughout the process, all defendants except Furkan Ersanlı were released under judicial control.

A TOTAL OF 15 YEARS IN PRISON

In the trial held in May last year at the İzmir 3rd High Criminal Court, Furkan Ersanlı was sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison: 11 years and 3 months for 'intentional injury with a weapon', 2 years and 1 month for 'bringing prohibited substances into the stadium', and 1 year and 8 months for 'disruption of the competition order'. The announcement of the sentence for Ersanlı for firing the flare was postponed. The court acquitted 10 defendants. Sentences ranging from 10 months to 2 years and 6 months in prison were given to 13 defendants for 'bringing prohibited substances into sports areas and disrupting the competition order' and 'providing prohibited substances brought into sports areas to spectators'. The announcement of the sentence for these penalties was also postponed.

"NO ERRORS FOUND IN THE DECISIONS"

After the appeals of the defendants' and complainants' lawyers, the case went to the appellate court. The İzmir Regional Court of Appeals 24th Criminal Chamber, which reviewed the file, rejected all the appeals made. The chamber ruled that there was no error in the conviction and acquittal decisions given according to the trial conducted, the content of the file, the evidence collected and evaluated at the decision point, the court's belief and discretion formed as a result of the prosecution, the acceptance of the nature of the crime, and the legally sufficient and appropriate reasoning provided.