A lot of negativity and violence has been going on in Turkey and its soccer right now and the soccer community has been left shocked. Also, Turkish football’s comeback from a week-long suspension following a club president’s striking of a referee was marred by a violent brawl including flying kicks.
The confrontation between Bursaspor and Diyarbakirspor players on December 19th involved two third-division teams with a track record of racial issues. Also, after their 2-0 home loss, players from Bursaspor rushed at their rivals and this emerged into a violent brawl with Diyarbakir, an informal capital for the Kurdish minority in southeast Turkey, according to viral photos and videos.
I repeat. This league is in disarray. https://t.co/Wm0MVQfK4O
— Kam #8🏁 (@Culturecams) December 20, 2023
Many fans took to social media apps to vent out their anger and frustration as to no action being taken by FIFA and calls for the sport to be Banned were posted on social media by soccer fans. Also, one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “I repeat. This league is in disarray,” regarding the violent brawl that took place in Turkish soccer.
Security personnel were called in to assist in quelling the brawling between spectators in the stands and the violence occurring on the field. In addition, after the players’ composure was recovered, the referee ended up showing three red cards to Diyarbakirspor players and two to the home team.
Trabzonspor coach Abdullah Avci opens up on recent controversy in Turkey
December 19, just over a week after a referee was hit in the face, the president of Istanbulspor, a Turkish SuperLig team, gave his players an order to quit the field in protest of an officiating call. Despite efforts to curb it, soccer violence is rampant in Turkey, although there are rarely direct attacks on high-ranking referees.
In the 73rd minute, Istanbulspor president Ecmel Faik Sarialioglu reportedly walked to the pitch and told his players to leave, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency. Also, he expressed his displeasure that Paul Onuachu’s goal at Necmi Kadıoglu Stadium gave Trabzonspor a 2-1 lead without a penalty being called by the referee.
The chairman of Turkish side #Istanbulspor just told his entire team to walk off the pitch because they didn’t get a penalty decision 🤦
Match against Trabzonspor has been suspended 🇹🇷pic.twitter.com/UivGiOlzag
— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) December 19, 2023
Trabzonspor coach Abdullah Avci opened up on the recent controversy. He said. “It is a sad day for football… We will wait for the football federation’s decision from now on,” regarding what went down in the match on December 19th and about the ongoing controversy happening in Turkish soccer.
It remains to be seen what happens next with Turkey and its soccer as it seems to get very ugly with each matchday progressing. Also, FIFA will have to get into this matter if it gets out of hand, and according to various reports that will soon be the case.
