Samsunspor reacts to referee decisions

In Week 9 of the Trendyol Süper Lig, Samsunspor lost 2-1 at home to Amed Sportif Faaliyetler. Logi Tomasson gave Samsunspor the lead with a goal, but Afonso Sousa was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in the 37th minute, leaving the team with ten men. In the 60th minute, Mbaye Diagne of the visiting side was also sent off with a red card.

Amed Sportif Faaliyetler equalized in the 73rd minute, when Gift Orban scored from the penalty spot. In the 83rd minute, Dia Saba scored to give the visitors a 2-1 win. After the final whistle, Samsunspor head coach Nenad Bjelica was also shown a red card by referee Kadir Sağlam.

In its statement, Samsunspor argued that disputed refereeing decisions directly affected the course of the match. The club said the communication that led to Afonso Sousa's second yellow card was interpreted by the referee as a reaction directed at him. The statement also stressed that a question Bjelica put to the referee at the end of the match was answered with a red card.

The club said the decisions and the referees responsible should be evaluated urgently by the relevant committees in order to protect the reputation of Turkish football. Samsunspor asked the Turkish Football Federation to carry out the necessary investigations into the incidents and to take steps without delay.