Violence has erupted again in the Turkish football league following a violent altercation between Trabzonspor fans and Fenerbahçe players after the match between the two teams ended on Sunday. Home supporters rushed onto the field after the final whistle while Fenerbahçe players were celebrating their 3-2 victory. Footage showed a Trabzonspor fan entering the pitch and quickly approaching the celebrating players, several of whom ran towards him and assaulted him.
Other fans also stormed the field as security personnel tried to restore order. The footage captured Belgian international Michy Batshuayi kicking one of the fans who entered the pitch, while Nigerian international Bright Osayi-Samuel punched another fan. Other images circulated on social media depicted one fan threatening a Fenerbahçe player, and another showing the visiting goalkeeper, Croatian Dominik Livaković, being punched in the face.
Following the violent scenes, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced an investigation into the incident. Yerlikaya wrote on the "X" platform: "After the football match between Trabzonspor and Fenerbahçe that took place this evening, we immediately began an investigation to identify the spectators who entered the field and to investigate the events that occurred at the end of the match." He added, "Incidents of violence in football stadiums are absolutely unacceptable."
This is not the first time the Turkish league has witnessed violence this season; the league was previously suspended for an entire week in December after the referee in the match between Ankara Güyük and Rizespor was assaulted. At that time, Faruk Koca, president of Ankara Güyük club, along with others, attacked referee Halil Umut Meler on the field after the match, resulting in injuries to the referee.
