In the early hours of July 3, the UEFA Euro Round of 16 match between Turkey and Austria showcased a fiery atmosphere. Not only did Austrian star player Marcel Sabitzer fall victim to objects thrown by fans, resulting in a head injury, but Turkish rising star Arda Celik also became a target of coin attacks.
In the 2024 Euro Round of 16, Turkey emerged victorious over Austria. A crucial save by the Turkish goalkeeper towards the end of the match proved decisive.
However, an unpleasant incident occurred during the game as, just as Austria was on the brink of elimination, an object struck Dortmund’s star Sabitzer on the head.
According to multiple media reports, Sabitzer was hit by an unidentified flying object, suspected to be a coin, while preparing to take a corner in the 77th minute.
Sabitzer clearly felt the impact, holding his head as he fell to the ground. Nevertheless, he quickly regained his feet and continued playing.
The exact moment when Celik was hit by an object is unclear. After assisting Merih Demiral for the second goal and provocatively celebrating towards the Austrian fans with his fingers in his ears, objects began raining down from the stands. It is possible that he was hit by a coin in the process.
The entire match was filled with controversy and highlighted the security concerns surrounding this edition of the Euros, which had already witnessed several safety incidents.
