Gianni Infantino, President of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), has vehemently condemned the violence that erupted following the Turkish Super Lig match between Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce.
The match, played on Sunday evening, saw Fenerbahce emerge victorious with a 3-2 scoreline, thanks to a last-minute goal from Michy Batshuayi. However, the celebrations were marred by a shocking display of violence as a large number of Trabzonspor fans stormed the pitch and attempted to assault the visiting players. The situation quickly escalated, with police struggling to regain control.
In a statement released on Monday, Infantino expressed his strong disapproval of the incident, emphasizing that such acts of violence have no place in either football or society.
“The violence witnessed after the Turkish Super Lig match between Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce is absolutely unacceptable, both on and off the field,” Infantino stated. “It has no place in our sport or our society.”
“I have said it before and I will say it again, without exception, in football all players should feel safe and secure to play the game that brings joy to so many people around the world,” he added.
The FIFA President urged the relevant authorities to ensure that the perpetrators of this violence are held accountable for their actions.
“I call on the relevant authorities to ensure that this is respected at all levels and that those responsible for the shocking events in Trabzonspor are held accountable for their actions,” he remarked.
The match saw Fenerbahce take a 2-0 lead in the first half courtesy of a brace from Brazilian Fred. However, Trabzonspor fought back to level the score, with Enes Bardy and Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” finding the back of the net, the latter converting a penalty in the 78th minute. The dramatic comeback was short-lived as Batshuayi snatched the winner for the visitors with a close-range strike in the 87th minute.
With eight matches remaining in the season, the win propelled Fenerbahce to second place in the standings with 79 points, just two points behind leaders Galatasaray. Trabzonspor remain in third place with 49 points, three points clear of fourth-placed Besiktas.
