By Daily Sports Nigeria on September 16, 2025

Paul Onuachu has launched a scathing attack on officiating in the Turkish Super League after Trabzonspor’s controversial 1-0 defeat to Fenerbahçe in Kadıköy, insisting the credibility of the competition is at stake, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Nigerian striker saw an early goal ruled out by VAR in the 11th minute, while teammate Okay Yokuşlu was sent off in the 17th minute after another VAR intervention, decisions which turned the tide of the game.

Fenerbahçe went on to grab victory through Youssef En-Nesyri, ending Trabzonspor’s unbeaten run this season.

Speaking in the mixed zone after the match, Onuachu did not hide his frustration.

“It’s embarrassing, man, it’s embarrassing, to be honest, they have to do something about this league, it’s a shame. If the whole world sees this, they will laugh at Turkish football,” he said.

When asked specifically about the red card incident, the Nigerian was even more direct. “It’s a big shame on the Turkish league. They have to do better,” Onuachu added, his words echoing the anger of teammates, fans and club officials.

Trabzonspor manager Fatih Tekke also voiced his disappointment, highlighting how the disallowed goal and red card shaped the contest.

“The match can be summed up briefly: it was all about the goal we scored and its cancellation. Everything was going as planned, exactly how we wanted. We scored, but the goal was disallowed, and the game ended there. Then came the red card. I’m disappointed about the loss, but I thank my players for their effort, heart and commitment,” Tekke told reporters.

Club officials took the criticism further. Divan Presidency Board Chairman Mahmut Ören released a statement condemning the officiating and calling for accountability from the Central Referee Committee and the Turkish Football Federation.

He argued that the VAR decisions represented a miscarriage of justice and urged the governing bodies to restore integrity to the competition.

The controversy has been fiercely amplified by the Trabzon press, who ran with stinging headlines.

Taka headlined, “The referee scandal marked Kadıköy. If we don’t make these referees blow the whistle, we are not men.”

Karadeniz published a photo of the referee with the caption “There is a thief in Kadıköy.” Other outlets followed with similarly sharp words, with 61 Saat describing the night as a “document of shame” for Turkish football.

Fans were equally vocal, with supporters’ associations accusing officials of destroying the credibility of the league through “blatant errors ignored by VAR” and “institutions far from transparency.”

The Güne Bakış Newspaper went as far as declaring, “Shame on you, you have ruined Turkish football.”

The defeat leaves Trabzonspor in third position on 10 points after five matches, level with Fenerbahçe, who have a game in hand.

Source Punch Ng

Posted September 16, 2025

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