Fans of Turkish football club Besiktas showered thousands of plush toys onto the playing field during their match against Fraport TAV Antalyaspor in a gesture of support for children affected by the earthquake that killed over 50,000 people in Turkey and Syria.
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Sunday's match between Besiktas and Antalyaspor at Istanbul's Vodafone Park in the Turkish league was stopped after 4 minutes and 17 seconds in memory of children affected by the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey's southern region three weeks ago, Reuters reported.
Earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck Turkey on February 6 at 4 hours and 17 minutes (Local time) -- reason why the Besiktas vs Antalyaspor match was paused at 4 minutes and 17 seconds after the kick-off. The match ended in a goalless draw.
"Our fans threw scarves, berets and plush toys on the ground of Vodafone Park to be given as a gift to the children in the earthquake region to cheer them up," Besiktas said in a club statement, as per Reuters.
Ghana International Christian Atsu was among the victims killed in the natural disaster. Initially, it was reported that the footballer was pulled out injured and alive being found buried under the debris caused by demolition of buildings owing to the earthquake.
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"Christian Atsu was pulled out injured," club vice president Mustafa Ozak told Radyo Gol as quoted in a Reuters report.
Later, on Feb. 18, it was reported that the former Chelsea star was found dead under the building where he lived in southern Turkey.