:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47067012/CNlfWdlUAAAJXZJ.0.0.jpg)
Like most Philadelphia Union fans, my friend Scott also has a European team he roots for. In his case (and the case of many other Union fans as well), it's Scotland's best known club Celtic. Scott lives and breathes Celtic, who are set to play in the Europa League Group Stage in December. Celtic was drawn into a group with Dutch legends Ajax, Denmark's Molde, and Turkish giants Fenerbahçe on Friday,and the Fenerbahçe fans took to Twitter looking to intimidate the Scottish fans who were going to travel to Istanbul to watch the match.
SAY IT AGAIN OROSPU @xnikitakuss pic.twitter.com/xpcTX0FaiY
— Sevgio Auditore (@miyavgil) August 28, 2015
In what could have easily escalated into threats of violence and general internet assbaggery, a Celtic fan decided to "take the piss" as they say.
Oi Fenerbahce fans! That's not a knife! pic.twitter.com/2f6xVBUzE8
— Aylwin Gordon (@aylg1987) August 28, 2015
#thatsnotaknife became a thing, and people started posting themselves holding objects that weren't knives.
#Fenerbahcefans #thatsnotaknife..... pic.twitter.com/Lln5vUa3Qt
— Geezis Kryst (@TetoBoza) August 29, 2015
Scott got into the action, posting a picture of himself holding a Minecraft sword.
Who needs a knife when you have a diamond sword. #thatsnotaknife #minecraftstyle pic.twitter.com/2390y0psvZ
— yahmpy (@yahmpy) August 29, 2015
In all fairness, the Fenerbahçe fans got into the act too.
@sweetirishf @TheCelticWiki @miyavgil We are ready!!!!11 #thatsnotaknife pic.twitter.com/eoJHbPBZsD
— Kaan Çalık (@kaandro) August 29, 2015
Even the original knife-wielding girl saw the humor of it all, posting the following.
Artık yeni iskoç takipçilerim için twitlerimi ingilizce atacağım. ŞAKA ŞAKA çevirsinler amua goyum EHEHEH LOVE MY CELTİC FAN FRIENDS ❤️
— Sevgio Auditore (@miyavgil) August 31, 2015
Scott's tweet - as well as many others - went viral, being retweeted and put into articles like this one. Well done, Celtic and Fenerbahçe fans. Hopefully when the clubs face off in December, the fans will leave the knives at home.