BESIKTAS head coach Sergen Yalcın and Turkish football fans have accused officials of favouring Galatasaray and their biggest star Victor Osimhen.
Yalcin and the supporters were incensed that Osimhen was let off easily by the centre referee after he grabbed Emirhan Topcu by the neck during an altercation in the Turkish Super Lig clash between Galatasaray and Besiktas yesterday.
Before the 40th minute confrontation between the Super Eagles striker and the Turkish defender, Galatasaray’s Davidson Sanchez had been sent off, and the Besiktas coach and fans felt Osimhen should have followed him into the dressing him.
However, referee Yasin Kolun issued a yellow card apiece to Osimhen and Topcu for their parts in the ugly incident, sparking outrage from Besiktas.
“We could have beaten Galatasaray today, but it was impossible to beat a Galatasaray with the referees behind them,” an outraged Yalçın said.
“If you did Osimhen’s move on the street, you’d be sued, but Yasin Kolun didn’t have the heart to give a red card.”
One fan on X, identified as Oymakbasi, described the referee’s decision as ‘scandalous’.
“Just this and the situations that Osimhen did to the BJK players just before this, which the side broadcaster did not show on the screen as usual, but instead, together with Ali Şansalalan from VAR who was on duty for three days in a row, were more than scandalous in themselves,” he wrote.
Another Turkish football supporter accused officials of shielding Osimhen, giving the Nigeria international licence to behave irrationally.
“Who is protecting Osimhen? He did the same shameless thing in our match!!! Who gives Osimhen the courage to attack Turkish players?” Ridvan wrote.
“Is it permissible to dishonorably attack our players in our country? Does Osimhen have a problem with Turks?”
Ali Ihsan Yasar insinuated that, for some reason, only Osimhen and other Galatasaray players could get away with what the Super Eagles star did to Topcu without grave consequences.
He wrote: “If Toreira had been in this position instead of Emirhan, he would have flipped four times and you’d all have called it a red card.
“Since Emirhan is standing upright, Osimhe’ns move seems simple. Clear red card.”
Irfan Yirmibes wrote: “Right in front of the assistant referee. The assistant referee doesn’t warn him. VAR also ignores it. The replay of the play didn’t even air.”
Osimhen lasted 86 minutes in the match, while his Super Eagles teammate Wilfred Ndidi played one more minute for Besiktas in the fixture that finished 1-1.
Galatasaray are on top of the Super Lig table with 22 points from eight games, having dropped points for the first time yesterday.
Besiktas are sixth with 13 points from six matches.