Israel’s Maccabi booed in Istanbul before kickoff

ISTANBUL (AP)—Thousands of Turkish fans booed Maccabi Tel Aviv players as they went on the pitch to warm up ahead of their Europa League game against Besiktas on Thursday, prompting Turkish officials to start playing loud music to drown out the noise.

 
Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer player…

AP - Sep 14, 10:26 am EDT World Soccer Gallery Security was tight at Besiktas’ Inonu stadium in Istanbul amid tensions with Israel over its refusal to apologize for a raid on a Gaza-bound ship last year that killed nine Turkish activists. More than 2,000 policemen were deployed in and around the stadium, NTV television said.

Dozens of pro-Palestinian activists carrying Palestinian flags protested against the Israeli team before the match, Dogan news agency video showed.

About 150-200 Maccabi fans were expected to attend the game. Some Israeli fans took their seats in a wire fenced section of the stands, which is lined by policemen.

Yair Asher of Flying Carpet, an Israeli travel company, said earlier Thursday that dozens of fans who arrived in Istanbul have been advised to blend in and not wear the yellow T-shirts of the Israeli team.