How a small Istanbul team with government links rose to challenge Turkey’s football elite

Source:The National Date:14Mar2019

A very impartial analysis to the question countless Turkish soccer fans are asking:  Is soccer being manipulated by politics?

love to hate.

Founded in 1990 as the side of the Istanbul municipality, Istanbul Basaksehir climbed the divisions to win promotion to the top flight in 2007. But, at the weekend, the club went one step closer to becoming only the sixth team to win Turkey’s premier football competition, the Super Lig, with a late goal sealing victory over their city rivals Fenerbahce.

It is not just the threat to the established order that has upset the supporters of Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Besiktas – the “Big Three” who between them have won all but seven titles since the Super Lig was founded in 1959 – but rather Basaksehir’s government links and the perceived financial backing this has won the league leaders.

Nope, won’t give away the conclusion….