Fans of the Turkish Trabzon team assaulted Fenerbahce players (French)
Violence was renewed in the Turkish Football League, after a major violent dispute occurred between fans of the Trabzonspor team and Fenerbahce players after the end of the match between the two teams, yesterday, Sunday.
The home fans stormed the field after the final whistle, while the away team players were celebrating the victory (3-2). The video scenes showed a Trabzonspor fan entering the field and quickly heading towards the celebrating players, some of whom ran towards him and hit him.
Other fans stormed the field, while police officers sought to impose security.
Scenes showed Belgian international Michy Batshuayi kicking one of the fans who entered the stadium, while Nigerian international Bright Osei-Samuel punched another fan.
In other pictures circulating on social media, a fan appeared to threaten a Fenerbahce player, and another showed the visitors' goalkeeper, Croatian Dominik Livakovic, receiving a punch in the face.
Following the scenes of violence, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerli Kaya announced the opening of an investigation into the incident.
He wrote on the “X” platform (formerly Twitter): “After the Trabzonspor-Fenerbahce football match that was held this evening, we immediately began an investigation to determine the identity of the spectators who entered the stadium and investigate the events that occurred at the end of the match.”
He continued, "Incidents of violence on football fields are completely unacceptable."
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In turn, Gianni Infantino, President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), denounced the riots.
He said - in an official statement on Monday - that "the acts of violence that took place in the Trabzonspor-Fenerbahce match are completely unacceptable, and have no place in the football community, whether on or off the field."
He added, "I will repeat what I said earlier, all players must be safe, protected and secure in order to give the performance that fans around the world enjoy."
The President of FIFA called on the responsible authorities to ensure the standard of safety and protection, and the need to hold accountable those involved in the horrific acts of violence in Trabzon.
This is not the first time the Turkish league has witnessed violence this season, as the league was previously suspended for a full week last December after the referee of the match between the Ankaragucu and Rizespor teams was assaulted.
At that time, Faruk Kodja, president of Ankaragucu club, along with other men, attacked referee Halil Umut Miller on the field after the match, which led to the referee being injured.
Source: Agencies