Trabzonspor supporters, following their team’s 2-3 defeat in the Turkish Super Lig on the evening of March 17th, engaged in acts of violence by storming the stadium, assaulting security personnel, and Fenerbahce players. Among these incidents, Michy Batshuayi, a former Chelsea player, was captured kicking a home team supporter before fleeing into the tunnel.
Supporters invaded the field and attacked players, with the former Chelsea star displaying aggressive behavior. In the recent clash, Brazilian midfielder Fred scored twice to propel Fenerbahce into a first-half lead. However, Trabzonspor successfully equalized through a direct free-kick by Enis Bardhi in the 63rd minute and a penalty converted by Trézéguet in the 78th minute.
Tensions escalated further when Michy Batshuayi scored to make it 3-2 for Fenerbahce in the 87th minute. The history of intense rivalry between the two closely trailing teams in the current league standings (Fenerbahce in 2nd place and Trabzonspor in 3rd) led to some supporters in the stands losing their composure.
The situation spiraled out of control upon the final whistle. After clinching victory at the home ground of their rivals, Fenerbahce players celebrated by embracing in a circle at the center of the pitch. Witnessing this, a fervent Trabzonspor fan leaped down, intending to confront the Fenerbahce players.
Immediately, away team players and coaching staff rushed to subdue the aggressor. During the commotion, a foreign object (suspected to be a knife) fell from the masked supporter. Matters escalated further when Fenerbahce defender Bright Osayi-Samuel punched the Trabzonspor supporter who had fallen to the ground. Observing this scene, a crowd of Trabzonspor supporters poured onto the field, resulting in chaos.
Michy Batshuayi, the former Chelsea player now representing Fenerbahce, was also captured kicking a home team supporter before fleeing into the tunnel. Meanwhile, Fenerbahce’s coach, Ismail Kartal, accused his players of being attacked by Trabzonspor supporters. He emphasized that his team had not incited violence and were entirely victims in this incident.
Trabzonspor’s coach, Abdullah Avci, also expressed concern about the events following the match. He stated that this was a significant issue that needed to be addressed thoroughly. Turkey’s Minister of Interior Affairs, Ali Yerlikaya, announced that authorities had launched an investigation into the altercation and would identify the individuals involved. He emphasized the importance of upholding the spirit of sportsmanship and unequivocally condemned acts of violence on the football field.