SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Crvena Zvezda-Red Star Telecom Basketball Club has earlier called on its fans to exercise "common sense" and refrain from insulting their opponents at the Galatasaray Liv Hospital showdown on Friday.
In a statement published on the club's website on Tuesday, Red Star said the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Top 16 match against Galatasaray Liv Hospital was an opportunity to commemorate Marko Ivkovic, who was killed when the two sides met earlier this season in Istanbul on Nov. 21.
The club said: "The passion and the love of the team should be shown in respecting the rival team's players and fans. Competition should just stay in the field."
"Fans must not insult the opposing team's players and fans while supporting their team. There is no place for violence in sport."
Meanwhile, Turkey's ambassador to Belgrade, Mehmet Kemal Bozay, told Anadolu Agency that Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic had personally told him he would guarantee security at the match.
Stabbed to death
"Red Star Telecom condemns all forms of violence - verbal or physical attacks - and calls for the violence to be kept away from the basketball halls and basketball in general," the statement added.
The statement reminded Red Star Telecom fans they should support their team within the framework of fair play and without their cheers containing insults based on religious or ethnic expressions.
Serbia fan Marko Ivkovic, 25, was stabbed to death at the Abdi Ipekci Arena in Istanbul when an argument between rival fans turned violent as Red Star fans allegedly arrived at the venue without tickets for the game, according to Istanbul Police.
Galatasaray won the match in Istanbul 110-103 in double overtime.
