Osayi-Samuel, Two Others To Face TFF Panel

Bright Osayi-Samuel and two Fenerbahce players will face disciplinary action from the Turkish Football Federation after an altercation with Trabzonspor fans.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino condemned the violence as “absolutely unacceptable”.
Trabzonspor’s previous instances of violence include attacks on referees, among others.

Eko Hot Blog reports that Bright Osayi-Samuel, a Nigerian international, is among three Fenerbahce players who will appear at a disciplinary hearing of the Turkish Football Federation, following an altercation with Trabzonspor fans, as announced by the TFF on Monday.

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After Fenerbahce secured a 3-2 victory in the Super Lig match on March 17, home supporters stormed the pitch at Trabzonspor’s stadium.

The attacks occurred as Fenerbahce players and coaching staff celebrated their win, with goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic reportedly punched in the face.

Osayi-Samuel, 26, punched one of the supporters who ran onto the pitch with his face masked, with Dutch defender Jayden Oosterwolde accused of kicking the same supporter.

The Turkish Football Federation stated that a third player, along with two club employees, will face the disciplinary body for involvement in “fighting.”

A Trabzonspor assistant coach will also appear before the disciplinary board.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino condemned the violence as “absolutely unacceptable”.

Earlier this season, the championship was suspended for a week after the president of Ankaragucu assaulted a referee at the end of a first division match.

Additionally, several recent Fenerbahce trips to Trabzon have been tainted by violence.

In a 2016 match against Trabzonspor, the game was abandoned in the final minutes following an attack on an assistant referee by a home supporter.

The year before that, the Fenerbahce team bus came under attack from a gunman en route to the airport on the way back from the neighbouring Black Sea city of Rize, leaving the driver seriously injured.

In 2014 a match between Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce was called off at half-time after the Istanbul club’s players were pelted with objects thrown onto the pitch by home fans.

Trabzonspor, who won the Turkish title two years prior, gained attention in 2015 when the club president locked the referee and his assistants inside the stadium overnight in protest at the decision not to award his team a penalty.