Turkish Super Lig sees another chaotic football night as the match between Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce witnessed a shocking incident of violence after the full-time whistle.
The incident took place on Sunday after the angry Trabzonspor fans stormed the pitch and attacked Fenerbahce players who were celebrating their win against the home team Trabzonspor by 3-2. The scene became worse after ex-Chelsea player Michy Batashuayi’s goal in the 87th minute.
The investigation into this violence has already begun.Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya has condemned this shocking incident of violence, stating that an investigation has since been launched to identify the alleged perpetrators.
Meanwhile, one video also shows former Blackpool and Queen’s Park Rangers winger Bright Osayi-Samuel knocking down one fan to the ground, while ex-Chelsea striker Batshuayi appeared to kick another in self-defense.
World’s football governing body, the Federation International de Football Association (FIFA), has criticized the violence, calling the Trabzonspor fans violence as ‘unacceptable.’
This violence is nothing new for Turkish football, as earlier the referee punching incident had already rocked Turkey in December 2023.
After hitting Halil Umut Miler, MKE Ankaragucu President Faruk Koca was taken into custody, causing tumultuous scenes as players and authorities attempted to diffuse the situation and as a result, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended all of its leagues.
Surely, this March 17 incident has thrown the Turkish Super Lig in another danger of getting suspended, as violence has rocked the football world but now they have to assure their players, along with foreign players, safety.
The word ‘Ultras’ means the fans who can go to any lengths to support their favorite teams, which came from Italy in the 1950s.
Even some Turkish football fans bring firecrackers to celebrate their team’s victory. English Premier League club Manchester United were the most prominent example of these kinds of fan ultras when they went to play Galatasaray on November 29, 2023, during the last group game of the UEFA Champions League 2023/24.