Trabzonspor fans storm pitch, charge players after loss

Fans of Turkey’s Trabzonspor stormed the pitch and brawled with safety forces and players from visiting Fenerbahce after their staff misplaced 3-2 on Sunday, within the newest incident in a league that has been marred by controversy this season.

Brazilian midfielder Fred scored twice within the first interval to present Fenerbahce, who’re second within the Super Lig two factors behind rivals Galatasaray, a half-time lead over Trabzonspor.

Macedonian midfielder Enis Bardhi curled in a free kick after 63 minutes for Trabzonspor and Trezeguet equalised with a penalty within the 78th.

Fenerbahce’s Belgian ahead Michy Batshuayi scored an 87th-minute winner as tensions ran excessive between the 2 groups, who’ve a historical past of chaotic encounters, and with fans hurling objects onto the sector.

Fenerbahce’s players celebrated within the centre of the pitch after the ultimate whistle.

A supporter ran onto the sector and fought with Fenerbahce defender Bright Osayi-Samuel. Video footage confirmed Osayi-Samuel swinging a fist in the direction of the fan, whereas Batshuayi may very well be seen kicking out at supporters as safety forces tried to intervene.

Dozens extra then stormed the pitch, as safety forces tried to protect Fenerbahce players working off the sector.

Fenerbahce head coach Ismail Kartal mentioned his players had not provoked fans and that his staff was attacked, whereas Trabzonspor coach Abdullah Avci mentioned the occasions on the finish have been upsetting.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya later mentioned on social media platform X that authorities had launched an investigation into the tip of the match brawl and to determine the fans who had stormed the pitch.

“Above all, sport is gentlemanship. It is never acceptable for violence to take place on football pitches,” he mentioned.

The incident comes after a sequence of different controversies within the Turkish league this season, together with an assault on a referee by a membership president, the postponement of a home cup closing in Saudi Arabia, and a number of other protests of refereeing choices.