Çarşı

The notorious Beşiktaş ultras are well known across Europe and are one of Turkey’s most passionate supporter groups. Çarşı basically means street/shopping area and the Beşiktaş ‘çarşı’ is where the locals meet in the neighbourhood market before games. The ultra leaders own businesses in the area and the club HQ is in Beşiktaş, Eagles fans refer to the district as their fortress. Çarşı are well organised, extremely passionate, have anarchist undertones and since renouncing hooliganism years back they have become vocal in supporting humanitarian and environmental causes. Çarşı have campaigned against nuclear power, against racism in football and raised awareness for earthquake victims from the stands. Most of the core group are run from the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul but Çarşı are a nationwide organisation with branches across Europe.