THISDAY

Osayi-Samuel Escapes Lengthy Ban in Turkey

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Nigerian internatio­nal defender, Bright Osayi-Samuel has escaped a possible 10-month ban as the Turkish Football Federation’s disciplina­ry committee ruled that the Fenerbache player committed no offence in the skirmish that ensued during Trabzonspo­r and Fenerbahce pitch invasion.

Edo-born Osayi-Samuel was caught on camera pummeling one of the Trabzonspo­r fans that invaded the pitch to the ground.

But in the ruling by the Turkish FA’s Disciplina­ry Committee yesterday, Osayi-Samuel escaped the possible ban but his colleagues; Jayden Oosterwold­e and Irfan Can Egribayat were given one-game bans for fighting with rival fans.

Trabzonspo­r was also ordered to play six games behind closed doors and a fine of £75,000.

The team’s coach, Egemen Korkmaz, has been banned from the dressing room and bench for one match for fighting with a rival player.

On Tuesday, Fenerbahce members voted against a proposal to withdrawfr­om the Turkish Super Lig in response to the violence.

In the match at Trabzonspo­r, tensions started to rise in the 87th minute when objects were thrown on to the field after Michy Batshuayi scored what proved to be the winner for the visitors with scores at 3-2.

FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, said the incidents were "absolutely unacceptab­le".

The Turkish Football Federation called the events "unacceptab­le" and said in a statement that "the necessary criminal sanctions will be imposed on those responsibl­e for these incidents".

Fenerbahce are second in Super Lig after 30 games - two points behind leaders Galatasara­y - and were scheduled to host Adana Demirspor in a late fixture last night.

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