Share
- Infantino slams Trabzonspor fans
By: Johnny Edward
Fans have tagged Bright Osayi-Samuel a hero after he was captured in a video fighting back following an attack by angry Trabzonspor fans after their 3-2 home loss to Fenerbahce on Sunday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
In disturbing footage, Nigeria international Bright Osayi-Samuel, who started at wing-back for Fenerbahce, was seen throwing a punch and sending to the floor one of the invading supporters after they charged at the visiting players.
Tempers flared when supporters of Trabzonspor ran onto the pitch attacking some of the visiting players following their team’s loss in the latest incident in the Turkish topflight league this season.
Osayi-Samuel knocked down a pitch invader while protecting a female officer, while former Chelsea forward Michi Batshuayi, who now features for Fenerbahce, hit at another marauding fan with a spinned kick as opposition fans swarmed the visitors after the game.
According to Turkish daily, Fanatik, Fenerbahce players left the Papara Park stadium approximately three hours after the game.
The daily also reported that Fenerbahce players looked tired and unhappy while leaving the stadium with Osayi-Samuel and Ferdi Kadigolu having difficulty walking afterwards.
Reacting to the incident on X, Football agent, Erol Toksoy, said Osayi-Samuel should be rewarded with Turkish citizenship for his act.
“Bright Osayi-Samuel should be rewarded with Turkish citizenship for protecting the female officer from this hooligans, a behavior that will be an example to all of us.”
When asked by Fanatik if Osayi-Samuel and other players would face a possible sanction for their involvement in the brawl, another agent, Cenk Yazici said, “I don’t think the players pictured attacked will be sanctioned. This is a disgrace to Turkish football.”
@FootballReprt also wrote, “Osayi-Samuel is the absolute real one for rocking the shit out of that clown with the clown mask and a butterfly knife.”
@Allsportztv wrote, “Osayi-Samuel poured that anger from AFCON on the fan’s body.”
Another fan commented, “Osayi-Samuel rearranged the face of Trabzonspor supporters after they invaded and attacked his teammates. Crazy scenes. He was born ready.”
@𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 wrote,”Fenerbahce fans will never forget him (Osayi-Samuel).”
Osayi-Samuel also posted a picture of Fenerbahce players celebrating their famous win in the dressing room with a love emoji.
Meanwhile, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the incident was “absolutely unacceptable.”
Reacting to the unacceptable incidents, Infantino insisted player safety must be the top priority and called for the perpetrators to be held accountable.
“The violence witnessed after the Turkish Süper Lig match between Trabzonspor and Fenerbahçe is absolutely unacceptable – on or off the field, it has no place in our sport or society,” the FIFA president stated.
“I have said it before, and I will say it again – without exception, in football, all players have to be safe and secure to play the game which brings such joy to so many people all over the world.
“I call on the relevant authorities to ensure that this is respected at all levels and for the perpetrators of the shocking events in Trabzon to be held accountable for their actions.”
Osayi-Samuel is expected to link up with the Nigeria squad at their training camp in Marrakesh, Morocco later this week ahead of international friendlies against Ghana and Mali.
Osayi-Samuel moved to Turkey in 2021 and has made 130 appearances for Fenerbahce ever since, scoring six times and providing 11 assists.