Istanbul, Turkey – After a heated match between Fenerbahce and Trabzonspor in the Turkish Super Lig, violence broke out as Trabzonspor fans stormed the pitch, attempting to attack Fenerbahce’s players. The chaos ensued following Fenerbahce’s 3-2 victory, with Michy Batshuayi scoring the winning goal late in the game after former Manchester United midfielder Fred had netted twice.
In the tense atmosphere of the Papara Park stadium, Trabzonspor supporters invaded the pitch, confronting Fenerbahce’s players, who had to defend themselves. The situation escalated even further, with fans hurling objects onto the pitch as the players celebrated their win in the middle of the field.
Security forces had to shield Fenerbahce’s players as they made their way back to the changing rooms amidst the violent scenes. Fenerbahce manager Ismail Kartal stated that his players were attacked and did not provoke the fans, echoing the sentiments of Trabzonspor manager Abdullah Avci, who found the events disturbing.
Turkey’s interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya, condemned the violence and announced an investigation to identify the individuals involved in the chaos. He emphasized the importance of sportsmanship and denounced the occurrence of violence on the football field.
The incident marked another controversial moment in the Turkish top-flight league, following a previous incident in December where Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca physically assaulted referee Halil Umut Meler after a match. The referee suffered a minor fracture during the attack, which led to the suspension of all Turkish leagues before resuming play after a one-week hiatus.