Take a mega city and divide it into a European side and an Asian side by a narrow strait. Cast an historical hotch pot of religions in there and you wind up with Istanbul. Give the European side one football team (Galatasaray) and the Asian side another (Fenerbahçe, and let's leave Besiktas out of the picture) and let them go at it on the football pitch. The local derby that results can only evoke some rather strong reactions.
I was watching the match in a pub in Ismir. Hang on, I hear you say. An Australian watching football - or 'soccer' as we use the new world diminution What is wrong with that picture. . . ?!?
Well, nothing. When I landed in London they told me to never trust a man who didn't like football, so I quickly joined the Arsenal fanclub.
Anyway, and more to the point, who does an Australian cheer for in such an alien match - the underdog of course.
Go Fenerbahçe!
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