Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen found himself at the center of controversy during Saturday’s Istanbul derby between Galatasaray and Besiktas, as tempers flared in the first half of the 1-1 draw at RAMS Park.
The heated moment came in the 40th minute when Osimhen went down under a challenge from Emirhan Topcu on the right flank. Expecting a foul, the Galatasaray forward reacted angrily after the referee instead awarded a throw-in.
Osimhen confronted Topcu in frustration, sparking a scuffle that quickly drew in players from both sides. Besiktas goalkeeper Mert Gunok rushed over to defend his teammate, while Galatasaray midfielder Orkun Kokcu and others stepped in to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The tension on the pitch was mirrored in the stands, where around 1,500 Besiktas supporters had travelled from Tupras Stadium to cheer their team under tight security. The visitors had reason to celebrate early when Tammy Abraham opened the scoring in the 12th minute, but Galatasaray equalized to ensure the spoils were shared.
The result extended Besiktas’s unbeaten away record this season, bringing their total to 13 points, though fans and pundits alike voiced concerns over their cautious tactics despite having a man advantage late in the match.
Former Turkish international and football analyst Nihat Kahveci condemned the officials’ handling of the Osimhen–Topcu altercation, questioning why replays of the incident were not reviewed.
“Why can’t we watch the replay of the Osimhen and Emirhan Topcu situation again? They’re grabbing each other by the throat there — let’s see it again,” Kahveci said.
He also faulted Besiktas for retreating defensively instead of pressing their advantage.
“I don’t know if it’s the coach’s instruction or a psychological thing, but this happened against Kocaelispor too — Besiktas just pulled back,” Kahveci said. “Even with 10 men, Galatasaray played the better football. Besiktas never looked like they had the upper hand.”
The fiery draw added another chapter to the fierce Galatasaray–Besiktas rivalry, leaving both teams under scrutiny ahead of their next fixtures.
