Super Eagles player Oseyi Samuel was forced to attack a pitch invader after his club Fenerbahce defeated Trabzonspor in the Turkish Super Lig on Sunday, March 17.
What happened?
Fenerbahce won 3-2 and Osayi-Samuel and his Fenerbahce teammates were met with violence as they celebrated the victory.
Tensions started to rise in the 87th minute when objects were thrown onto the field after former Chelsea forward Michy Batshuayi scored what proved to be the winner for visiting side Fenerbahce.
As Oseyi Samuel and his fellow teammates gathered in the center circle to celebrate, the footage shows some home supporters invading the pitch and confronting the players.
As more and more fans flocked onto the pitch, there were violent scenes with security staff struggling to restore order.
That saw the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations silver medalist forced to protect himself, punching a supporter as even more fans came onto the pitch.
A video shows Osayi-Samuel, who joined Fenerbache in 2021, squared up with the pitch invader whose face is covered in a scarf. The attacker was eventually overpowered by the Super Eagles defender alongside a host of stadium stewards and teammates.
The Fenerbahce players had to be guided into the tunnel by security as more Trabzonspor fans spread onto the pitch.
After the incident, Turkey's interior minister Ali Yerlikaya condemned the attack on players by fans and added that the occurrence is being investigated.
The minister said: "After the Trabzonspor-Fenerbahçe football match played on Sunday, identification efforts regarding the spectators entering the field and an investigation into the events that took place after the match were immediately launched".
He added; "Sports is, above all, sportsmanship. It is never acceptable for violence to occur on football fields. The public will be informed about the developments".
On-pitch violence is not new in the Turkey Super Lig. In December, the league was suspended after Faruk Koca, president of MKE Ankaragucu FC, invaded the pitch and punched the center referee, Halil Umut Meler after his team conceded a 97th-minute equalizer in a 1-1 Super Lig draw with Caykur Rizespor.
What's next?
It remains to be seen if the football authorities will take the necessary steps concerning pitch invaders in Turkey's Super Lig.
In addition, Fenerbahce sits second in the Super Lig, two points behind leaders Galatasaray, and are 30 points clear of Trabzonspor in third.
Fenerbahce's next league game is against Adana Demirspor on April 3, 2024.
What happened?
Fenerbahce won 3-2 and Osayi-Samuel and his Fenerbahce teammates were met with violence as they celebrated the victory.
Tensions started to rise in the 87th minute when objects were thrown onto the field after former Chelsea forward Michy Batshuayi scored what proved to be the winner for visiting side Fenerbahce.
As Oseyi Samuel and his fellow teammates gathered in the center circle to celebrate, the footage shows some home supporters invading the pitch and confronting the players.
As more and more fans flocked onto the pitch, there were violent scenes with security staff struggling to restore order.
That saw the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations silver medalist forced to protect himself, punching a supporter as even more fans came onto the pitch.
A video shows Osayi-Samuel, who joined Fenerbache in 2021, squared up with the pitch invader whose face is covered in a scarf. The attacker was eventually overpowered by the Super Eagles defender alongside a host of stadium stewards and teammates.
The Fenerbahce players had to be guided into the tunnel by security as more Trabzonspor fans spread onto the pitch.
After the incident, Turkey's interior minister Ali Yerlikaya condemned the attack on players by fans and added that the occurrence is being investigated.
The minister said: "After the Trabzonspor-Fenerbahçe football match played on Sunday, identification efforts regarding the spectators entering the field and an investigation into the events that took place after the match were immediately launched".
He added; "Sports is, above all, sportsmanship. It is never acceptable for violence to occur on football fields. The public will be informed about the developments".
On-pitch violence is not new in the Turkey Super Lig. In December, the league was suspended after Faruk Koca, president of MKE Ankaragucu FC, invaded the pitch and punched the center referee, Halil Umut Meler after his team conceded a 97th-minute equalizer in a 1-1 Super Lig draw with Caykur Rizespor.
What's next?
It remains to be seen if the football authorities will take the necessary steps concerning pitch invaders in Turkey's Super Lig.
In addition, Fenerbahce sits second in the Super Lig, two points behind leaders Galatasaray, and are 30 points clear of Trabzonspor in third.
Fenerbahce's next league game is against Adana Demirspor on April 3, 2024.