Trabzonspor and Fenerbahçe players were sanctioned after XXL brawl

Turkish club Trabzonspor has been handed a six-match ban behind closed doors after violence erupted at its ground following a championship game against Fenerbahçe in March, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced on Wednesday.

The TFF disciplinary committee also punished two Fenerbahçe players, Dutch defender Jayden Oosterwolde and goalkeeper Irfan Can Egribayat, with one-match suspensions and fines of several hundred euros. The Dutch player was filmed kicking a Trabzonspor supporter who entered the pitch with his face masked.

Five supporters placed in pre-trial detention

On March 17, a crowd of Trabzonspor supporters stormed the pitch of their stadium at the final whistle of a first league match their team had lost, while players from Fenerbahçe, one of the big three clubs in Istanbul, celebrated the victory. In addition to the behind closed doors matches, Trabzonspor face two fines totaling around €90,000.

Nigerian Fenerbahçe player Bright Osayi-Samuel, who was summoned before the TFF disciplinary board for punching a fan, was not punished, “the conditions of the violation of the disciplinary rules were not collected,” the body said.

The brawl sparked strong reactions in Turkey three months after a club manager violently attacked a referee after a Süper Lig match. FIFA chief Gianni Infantino condemned the “unacceptable” violence. As a result, thirteen Trabzonspor supporters were arrested, five of whom were placed in pre-trial detention.