Fenerbahce have called for the Turkish Super Lig to be suspended after their team bus was shot at by a gunman.

The league leaders were travelling to Trabzon airport, following their 5-1 victory over Rizespor, when the shooting happened.

The driver was taken to hospital but no players were injured in the attack.

"As Fenerbahce, we think it's unavoidable to suspend the league until this dark attack is enlightened," a club statement read.

"It is the end of the football and blood has been spilled. Fenerbahce's irrevocable priority is for the culprits to be found and punished immediately."

The club said they would release a further statement after an emergency board meeting on Monday.

The 70km road on which the team bus was travelling in north-east Turkey connects Rize to Trabzon, where Fenerbahce's bitter rivals Trabzonspor are based.

A Fenerbahce official, who spoke anonymously to the BBC, said: "The place where the attack happened is a very dangerous viaduct.

"One side is forest and the other side is sea. If the bus had toppled down, it would have fallen into the sea. Everyone is freaked out."

Fenerbahce and Trabzonspor are banned from taking away fans when they play each other and a game between the sides last season at the Avni Aker Stadium in Trabzon was abandoned after objects were thrown  on to the pitch.

"There had been other violent attacks over the years," the official said. "Every time we go to Rize, the police take tight security measures, place police officers and cars every 100 metres on the road.

"The security measures would end at the entrance of Rize. But there would always be Trabzonspor fans attacking our bus with stones. In 2004 one of our players was injured after a stone hit his head.

"Two years ago, against Trabzonspor, their fans pulled out a gun towards the administrator's bus but did not shoot. It was recorded on a live TV programme. We could see it coming.

"We have no problem at Rize. But playing in Trabzon is like playing in a rebel zone."

Fenerbahce, who have former Premier League players Dirk Kuyt, Raul Meireles and Emre Belozoglu in their side, are the defending champions of the Super Lig and have won the major domestic competition 19 times.

Saturday's win took the Istanbul team to the top of the table, one point ahead of rivals Galatasaray.
(BBC)