Super Eagles star slams referee after controversial Red Card in Rizespor’s defeat to Fenerbahçe

Two-capped Super Eagles midfielder Ibrahim Olawoyin has hit out at the officiating after receiving a controversial red card in Rizespor’s 3-2 loss to Fenerbahçe, Soccernet.ng reports.

The exit of Olawoyin in the first half of the clash at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium proved decisive in the outcome of the match.

Rizespor had taken a comfortable 2-0 lead before a controversial penalty call by VAR against Olawoyin shifted the momentum in favour of Jose Mourinho’s side.

The Nigerian was adjudged to have committed a foul inside the box, which led to a penalty converted by Edin Džeko.

To make matters worse, Olawoyin was shown a second yellow card, which reduced İlhan Palut's men to ten. With that advantage, Fenerbahçe completed the comeback, with Džeko equalising in the 79th minute before Youssef En-Nesyri sealed the win.

In the game, former Manchester United player, Sofyan Amrabat, had earlier pushed a player similar to that of the Nigerian, but no decision was made.

Reacting to the decision shared by lemarcaspors, Olawoyin expressed his frustration as he questioned the referee's consistency in applying the rules.

“The red card was a very funny card. I fell on the first card, but it was not a deceptive move. The second yellow card was not a penalty. You give a penalty and a red card, so why don't you look at [Sofyan] Amrabat's move then?” Olawoyin said.

Ibrahim Olawoyin: “Kırmızı kart çok komik bir karttı. İlk kartta düştüm ama aldatmaya yönelik hareket değildi. İkinci sarı kartta pozisyon penaltı değildi. Penaltı ve kırmızı kart veriyorsunuz peki neden o zaman Amrabat'ın hareketine bakmıyorsunuz?”
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— Le Marca Sports (@lemarcaspors) February 2, 2025

Galatasaray had earlier condemned the Turkish Football Federation over similar calls for playing a key role in seeing Fenerbahce close the gap with them at the top of the table.