- A cat briefly interrupted Bayern Munich’s Champions League win at Besiktas
- This feline interruption saw Besiktas charged with ‘insufficient organisation’
- They were also charged by UEFA over ‘throwing objects and blocked stairways’
- Besiktas got a suspended European ban last year and may now have to serve it
Besiktas have been hit with two UEFA charges following Wednesday night’s 3-1 loss at home to Bayern Munich.
The game, which ended with Bayern claiming an 8-1 aggregate victory and a place in the Champions League quarter-finals, was halted by referee Michael Oliver early in the second half after a cat ran onto the field.
This feline interruption saw Besiktas charged with ‘insufficient organisation’, while the club’s other alleged offence involved ‘throwing objects and blocked stairways’.
A cat briefly interrupted Bayern Munich’s Champions League win at Besiktas on Wednesday
The cat ran onto the field early in the second half of the last-16 second leg in Istanbul, Turkey
Ref Michael Oliver halted the game on 49 minutes as players and staff tried to remove the cat
Both issues will be investigated at a hearing on May 31 when Besiktas could be banned from European competition from the beginning of next season.
Besiktas are currently second in the Turkish Super Lig and therefore on course to enter next season’s Champions League in the third qualifying round.
But they were handed a suspended European ban by UEFA in April last year following crowd trouble during a Europa League clash with Lyon.
The ban was suspended for two years and the club blocked their own supporters from travelling to European away games in a bid to limit the risk of further trouble.
However, if found guilty of fan disorder during the Bayern game, Besiktas face the very real prospect of being denied a place in any UEFA competition next season.
The cat made its escape by leaping over an electronic advertising board at Vodafone Park
Boss Senol Gunes applauded Besiktas fans but some of them may have got the club in trouble