Aheated confrontation between Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen and Besiktas defender Emirhan Topcu overshadowed Saturday’s highly anticipated Istanbul derby, as Galatasaray and Besiktas played to a 1-1 draw at RAMS Park in the eighth week of Türkiye’s Super League.
The incident occurred in the 40th minute when Osimhen went down following a challenge from Topcu on the right flank. When the referee signaled for a throw-in rather than awarding the foul Osimhen expected, tensions erupted between the two players.
Osimhen, visibly agitated, approached Topcu in an aggressive manner before teammates intervened to restore order. The confrontation escalated to include multiple players, with Besiktas goalkeeper Mert Gunok joining the fray. The situation was eventually defused through the efforts of Galatasaray midfielder Orkun Kokcu and other players who stepped in to separate the combatants.
Besiktas supporters arrive in force for away derby
The match drew significant crowd support from both sides, with approximately 1,500 Besiktas supporters making the journey from their home stadium Tupras Stadium to RAMS Park aboard 30 chartered buses. The away fans, who gathered hours before kickoff under heavy security measures, completely filled their designated section of the stadium.
Besiktas had taken an early lead through Tammy Abraham’s 12th-minute strike, but the visitors were unable to maintain their advantage as tensions rose following their goal.
Victor Osimhen (45) of Galatasaray faces off with a player of Besiktas during Turkish Super Lig week 8 football match between Galatasaray and Besiktas at RAMS Park in Istanbul, Türkiye on Oct. 4, 2025. (AA Photo)
Former international criticizes tactical approach and officiating
The 1-1 result extended Besiktas’s unbeaten away record this season, though both of their league defeats have come on the road. The draw lifted Besiktas to 13 points in the league standings.
Former Turkish international and prominent sports commentator Nihat Kahveci criticized the match officials’ handling of the Osimhen-Topcu incident during post-game analysis.
“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 watch the replay,” Kahveci said.
Questions remain over defensive mentality in high-stakes matches
Kahveci also offered pointed criticism of Besiktas’s tactical approach, suggesting the team retreated too defensively despite playing against ten men for a portion of the match.
“I don’t know if coach Sergen wants this or if the players are getting into this mentality psychologically. This happened in the Kocaelispor match too — Besiktas pulled back,” Kahveci said. “Galatasaray played good football with 10 men. Besiktas, in a very strange way, couldn’t make anyone feel that they were playing 11 against 10 — not the Galatasaray team, not us watching, not any spectator in the stands.”
The draw maintains the competitive balance in one of Turkish football’s most storied rivalries, though questions remain about both teams’ tactical approaches in high-stakes matches.
