Nottm Forest Vs Fenerbahçe: Nervy Forest reach Europa League last 16 amid flares and arrests
Nottm Forest Vs Fenerbahçe ended 2-1 on the night but Nottingham Forest progressed 4-2 on aggregate to reach the Europa League last 16. The tie, won over two legs after a 3-0 first-leg victory in Istanbul, was overshadowed by multiple flare incidents that interrupted play and led to three arrests.
Match scoreline and decisive moments
Fenerbahçe led 2-0 at the City Ground on the night through a 22nd-minute opener from Kerem Aktürkoglu and a second-half penalty from the same player, leaving the aggregate at 3-2 and threatening a dramatic comeback. Callum Hudson-Odoi, brought on at half-time, produced the key intervention 22 minutes from the end with his sixth goal of the season, a low finish that restored control and made the tie 4-2 on aggregate. The match finished 2-1 to the visitors but Nottingham Forest progressed to a last-16 tie against either Real Betis or FC Midtjylland.
Flares, stoppages and crowd disruption
The game was interrupted early when sections of the away end deployed pyrotechnics. Play was stopped for more than three minutes immediately after kick-off as Forest players had to avoid fireworks thrown onto the pitch from parts of a 1, 500-strong away contingent. Officers later recorded multiple reports of small flares being lit and thrown from the away end during the Europa League knockout tie, and the match was delayed for several minutes in the first half while flares on the playing surface were removed.
Arrests and police investigation
Nottinghamshire Police confirmed three arrests following a series of incidents during the home tie. A 37-year-old man was arrested after a flare was reportedly thrown from the away end towards the home end. A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a steward, and a 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of going onto the playing area at a designated football match. Officers also found a section of seating in the away end damaged after fans left the area at the end of the game.
Supt Louise Clarke said the force was investigating multiple reports from the match and working closely with both clubs. She confirmed one suspect had been arrested in connection with the flare incident and two others on suspicion of separate offences. Separate investigations are ongoing into each incident and into wider reports of pyrotechnic use and criminal damage within the ground, and police will be analysing all available footage to help identify anyone who could have been involved.
Team changes, substitutions and tactical swings
Forest manager Vitor Pereira made six changes to his side following Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, prioritising energy for their upcoming Premier League trip to Brighton. Despite a tentative performance, Pereira brought on Igor Jesus, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ola Aina and Ibrahim Sangaré at half-time in an attempt to regain control. Four changes were made at the break, with James McAtee and Ryan Yates withdrawn after a flat first half.
Forest were caught high on 22 minutes when Sidiki Cherif broke down the right and picked out his pass to Aktürkoglu, who finished clinically. The restart proved costly: Jair Cunha tripped Aktürkoglu 25 seconds after the interval and the striker converted the resulting penalty. The substitutes combined to end the comeback bid when Aina’s cross found Hudson-Odoi at the far post in the 68th minute and his low shot beat goalkeeper Tarik Cetin. Omari Hutchinson later ran through but was denied by Cetin, preventing a 2-2 draw on the night.
Managers' reactions and what comes next
Pereira said he was pleased to move forward despite the pressure and described the match as a thriller, explaining his decision to rotate because Brighton is a very important fixture and he needed his players to have fuel and energy. He added that Forest have ambition in the Europa League while acknowledging the club are not comfortable in the Premier League table and must secure points to avoid a difficult situation. Fenerbahçe coach Domenico Tedesco praised his players’ character, saying they showed personality and belief, and conceded his side must accept elimination but can hold their heads up. He noted that Forest had changed coach a few days before the first leg, that his team underperformed at home and that Forest overperformed in Istanbul.
By progressing 4-2 over two legs — after a 3-0 first-leg win in Istanbul and the 2-1 return match at the City Ground — Nottingham Forest will next learn whether they meet Real Betis, whom they drew 2-2 in Spain during the league phase, or FC Midtjylland, who beat them in October and whose victory earlier in the season was linked to the departure of a previous manager. What makes this notable is the combination of on-field fragility and off-field disorder in a single night, leaving the club to manage both competitive progression and a police investigation as they turn their attention to the Premier League fixture at Brighton on Sunday.
