Ex-Liverpool Midfielder Nuri Sahin is Forced to PROTECT the Referee from his OWN Antalyaspor Players
- last year
Former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Nuri Sahin was forced to protect the referee by using himself as a human shield from his own Antalyaspor players after their controversial defeat to Fenerbache.
The footballer-turned-manager, who also played for Real Madrid, has been in charge of the Turkish side since 2021, having finished his playing career there.
The Antalyaspor players were incensed at full-time by several controversial decisions which saw Sahin's side lose 2-1 to the Super Lig giants.
Antalyaspor were denied an equalizer in the 11th minute of added time thanks to a VAR offside call - after ex-Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi had bagged a brace to bring Fenerbache back from 1-0 down at the Antalya Stadium.
At the full-time whistle, the infuriated Antalyaspor players tried to question referee Kadir Saglam and his team but manager Sahin rushed onto the pitch to protect them.
Sahin was visibly angered by his players and even began pushing them away as they continued to protest with Saglam - while one member of staff appeared to be brandished with a red card.
The tension did not stop there, however. After the game, Antalyaspor's board of directors released a statement with the title 'Dark Knight' and branded the referee a 'novice'.
'In Turkish football, Sivas and Gaziantep yesterday, Antalya today, is another city where a night will be experienced tomorrow,' it began.
'We knew Kadir Sağlam before. In the Kasımpaşa match, we played in the 5th week of this season, tonight's referee Kadir Sağlam was also the one who did not give a red card to Larsson's face in the match against Kasimpasa, but who made up a penalty in the position that went aude, and who was suspended for 4 weeks after this match.
'We said we don't want novice referees.
'In today's match, the same referee who assisted Fenerbahçe's first goal sought the penalty and made up the offside, despite being stopped by a foul while attacking with Bünyamin while he was ahead 1-0.
'We're wondering if there's any offside talk in the VAR recordings. We demand disclosure, we believe that TFF's understanding of transparency requires it.
'We are against the order that treats Anatolian clubs to the championship race. We demand justice not only for our community but for all Anatolian clubs.'
'We will continue to seek justice for all. Let the VAR records of the Antalyaspor - Fenerbahce match be announced, let's see what a cover is for the operation.'
Sahin, 34, made his way around Europe's elite clubs during his career, even enjoying time in England during a loan spell at Liverpool in the 2012,13 season.
The footballer-turned-manager, who also played for Real Madrid, has been in charge of the Turkish side since 2021, having finished his playing career there.
The Antalyaspor players were incensed at full-time by several controversial decisions which saw Sahin's side lose 2-1 to the Super Lig giants.
Antalyaspor were denied an equalizer in the 11th minute of added time thanks to a VAR offside call - after ex-Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi had bagged a brace to bring Fenerbache back from 1-0 down at the Antalya Stadium.
At the full-time whistle, the infuriated Antalyaspor players tried to question referee Kadir Saglam and his team but manager Sahin rushed onto the pitch to protect them.
Sahin was visibly angered by his players and even began pushing them away as they continued to protest with Saglam - while one member of staff appeared to be brandished with a red card.
The tension did not stop there, however. After the game, Antalyaspor's board of directors released a statement with the title 'Dark Knight' and branded the referee a 'novice'.
'In Turkish football, Sivas and Gaziantep yesterday, Antalya today, is another city where a night will be experienced tomorrow,' it began.
'We knew Kadir Sağlam before. In the Kasımpaşa match, we played in the 5th week of this season, tonight's referee Kadir Sağlam was also the one who did not give a red card to Larsson's face in the match against Kasimpasa, but who made up a penalty in the position that went aude, and who was suspended for 4 weeks after this match.
'We said we don't want novice referees.
'In today's match, the same referee who assisted Fenerbahçe's first goal sought the penalty and made up the offside, despite being stopped by a foul while attacking with Bünyamin while he was ahead 1-0.
'We're wondering if there's any offside talk in the VAR recordings. We demand disclosure, we believe that TFF's understanding of transparency requires it.
'We are against the order that treats Anatolian clubs to the championship race. We demand justice not only for our community but for all Anatolian clubs.'
'We will continue to seek justice for all. Let the VAR records of the Antalyaspor - Fenerbahce match be announced, let's see what a cover is for the operation.'
Sahin, 34, made his way around Europe's elite clubs during his career, even enjoying time in England during a loan spell at Liverpool in the 2012,13 season.