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Egyptian and Turkish football pitches are set to re-emerge as battlegrounds between ultras and authoritarian leaders in a life-and-death struggle that involves legal proceedings to brand the supporters as terrorists and efforts to undermine their widespread popular base.

An Istanbul court has postponed the “coup attempt” case against 35 members of Beşiktaş’s çArşı supporters’ group until April 2, amid a mixture of mockery and horror at the controversial trial.

A trial against 35 individuals associated with Beşiktaş’s football fan group çArşı on charges of “attempting to overthrow the government” during last year’s Gezi Park protests has started at Istanbul’s Çağlayan Courthouse.

The group received massive support from a crowd that included main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputies.

Turkey should respect freedom of expression and assembly, the U.S. State Department has said, regarding the “coup attempt” charges filed against Turkish football fans for their involvement in last year’s Gezi protests.

Thirty-five members of çArşı, the iconic supporters’ group of Beşiktaş football club, face life imprisonment over the charges.