Manchester United fans have reportedly been attacked by Fenerbahce ultras in Istanbul ahead of the Red Devils’ Europa League showdown with the Turkish club. Footage of the incident has been circulating on social media, with 50 hooligans reportedly swarming a group of United supporters.

A host of Red Devils fans have followed their team to Turkey to watch their third Europa League match of the campaign.

Erik ten Hag’s side are yet to record a victory in the competition, having drawn their opening two games against FC Twente and Porto.

One United supporter told the Daily Mail they saw a fan get hit with a crowbar. And another supporter told fan website StrettyNews: “About 50 of them swarmed us (a group of five). One lad followed me down a street and pretended to help before hitting me a shot into the jaw.”

Social media footage shows violent scenes outside the Grand Hisar Hotel, where two Leeds fans were stabbed to death before a UEFA Cup match in 2000.

Videos of ultras assaulting fans after charging towards them have been posted to X (formerly known as Twitter) by hooligan accounts, with one including the caption: “This is Istanbul”.

Another post on Instagram shows another group standing in the street, with some on motorbikes, and is captioned: “On the first punch of a fight… Manchester is now truly RED.”

Turkish football has often been marred by violent scenes, with Trabzonspor fans storming the pitch to attack Fenerbahce players last season.

In December, Ankaragucu club president Faruk Koca punched referee Halil Umut Meler to the floor following his side’s 1-1 draw with Rizepor. And in the summer, supporters of Turkey and Georgia clashed in the stands at Euro 2024.

United will be desperate to clinch all three points at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium to avoid getting cut adrift of the teams towards the top end of the Europa League table.

And ahead of the match, United boss Ten Hag said: “The players who are available have to do the job and they are capable of doing the job.

“I think we have enough players in the team that are so experienced. Our team is so experienced. We’ve faced such situations more often. I think we’re looking forward, I think it will be a great ambience that’s fuel for the team. And it’s a real challenge – it’s a motivation, it’s really good for us.”