Following a Turkish soccer match on Sunday, chaos erupted as enraged fans stormed the pitch in response to the final score, only to face retaliation from the players themselves.
The incident occurred at Trabzonspor’s home stadium during their 3-2 defeat against Fenerbahce in the Super Lig. Disgruntled supporters of the losing team vented their frustration by attacking the opposing players.
However, the situation took an unexpected turn as players like Bright Osayi-Samuel and Michy Batshuayi fought back against the intruders, which was captured on video footage.
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Batshuayi, in particular, employed his football skills for self-defense, kicking a fan who approached him, while Osayi-Samuel was seen throwing punches at two fans simultaneously.
Despite security’s efforts to intervene and quell the violence, the brawl escalated as more spectators entered the pitch.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemned the incident, labeling the violence as “absolutely unacceptable.” He emphasized the need for players’ safety and urged authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable.
Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya also addressed the situation, revealing that 12 individuals have been detained in connection to the altercation.