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Turkey's Sound of Silence: Tyler Boyd, Playing Amid Pandemic and Istanbul's Fan-Less Derby

It’s not really the color or choreography that shocks you. That can be found elsewhere. Instead, the thing that really stands out about Turkish soccer is the noise. The sound on match day is constant, resonant and palpable. It comes from all directions—these stadiums have no quiet side. It’s intimidating and exhilarating, and it’s a big part of why Tyler Boyd wanted to play in Istanbul, and why he wanted to play for Besiktas.

“When they’re whistling at something, it’s almost like you can feel a wind. You can feel it. It’s incredible. They’re incredibly passionate and it creates such a good atmosphere to be a footballer,” the Besiktas and U.