Bursaspor game abandoned after linesman injured by missile

A Turkish league match between Manchester United's Champions League opponents Bursaspor and Gaziantepspor was abandoned yesterday after a linesman was struck by a missile thrown by a spectator. Champions and league leaders Bursaspor, who host Manchester United at the Bursa Ataturk Stadium in November, scored the only goal of the match following a controversial decision by the officials that angered the home crowd in the 57th minute. An object was thrown from the stands and the linesman Muharrem Yilmaz suffered a cut to the head, causing the referee to abandon the game six minutes later. The Turkish Super Lig is notorious for its passionate crowds and the Turkish Football Federation, or TFF, has had to deal with crowd problems before. Bursaspor were awarded a 3-0 default win over Diyarbakirspor for a match suspended in March after Diyarbakirspor fans threw objects at opposing players. The vice-president of the TFF, Lutfi Aribogan, is expected to announce a similar decision after yesterday's incident. The default win would put Bursaspor on 15 points, stretching their lead at the top of the table over second-placed Besiktas by five points. The Bursaspor-Diyarbakirspor game was suspended in the 17th minute after Diyarbakirspor supporters threw objects on the field. One object struck and knocked down an assistant referee. Another game was cancelled last season between Istanbul Municipality and Diyarbakirspor at Istanbul's Ataturk Olympic Stadium after Diyarbakirspor players stormed the pitch. Bursaspor are making their Champions League debut this season and lost their opening Group C game 4-0 at home to Valencia last week. They play Rangers at Ibrox next Wednesday before a double-header with Manchester United.