Ankara--Turkey's top football club Fenerbahce Istanbul called Sunday for the suspension of the national league championship after a gun attack on the team bus as players returned from a match.
"We consider that as long as this attack is not solved in a way that satisfies Fenerbahce and public opinion, a suspension of the championship is inevitable," the club said on its website.
"Blood ran and football was silenced. Finding and punishing the culprits is of vital importance for Fenerbahce."
The bus came under fire late Saturday as the Turkish Super Lig leaders passed through the northeastern town of Trabzon following their away game in nearby Rize, where they beat Rizespor 5-1, said club vice president Mahmut Uslu.
No players were hurt in the attack, but the driver was wounded in the face, Uslu said, accusing the still unidentified assailants of having tried to "crash the bus and kill the players".
It was "a cowardly and inhuman" attack," Sports Minister Cagatay Kilic said.
Media reports said the shots caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle but that a team security official managed to slam on the brakes to prevent it plunging into a ravine.
The team had been on their way to Trabzon airport to catch a flight back to Istanbul and were later given an armed escort to the airport.
Kilic softened earlier opposition to the idea of suspending football matches, saying Sunday that "all options are being considered".
AFP
