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Turkish club Trabzonspor have reacted with a criminal complaint after midfielder John Obi Mikel was allegedly targeted by racist abuse from Fenerbahce fans, MySportDab reports.
The Nigerian was targeted with abusive and harmful messages after the two clubs played each other in the Turkish Super Lig on Saturday.
On Monday, in a statement regarding the incident, Trabzonspor wrote: ‘Racism is only done by the hopeless and ignorant.
‘We condemn the racist abuse against our player John Obi Mikel after the game against Fenerbahce and we have filed a criminal complaint against the culprits. #SayNoToRacism’ #WeStandwithObi.
The 32-year-old played the full 90 minutes but it was the racist abuse that dominated the headlines in turkish media over the weekend.
Mikel’s team-mate Joao Pereira took to social media to express his disappointment on the incident and said it was ‘unacceptable and sad’.
‘It is unacceptable and sad that in 2020 we’re still facing results of racism and disrespect of this nature.
‘Football is bigger than the little people behind these stupid acts. #saynotoracism #WeStandwithObi.
According to MySportDab sources in Turkey, abusive messages were sent to Mikel’s Instagram page which included using the N-word and banana emojis’.
In Mikel’s post-match message to his own fans, he did not speak of any abuse.
‘Great victory, amazing team spirit, thanks to our amazing fans,’ Mikel wrote.
The match was a very heated encounter with Mikel also involved in a furious argument with Fenerbahce midfielder Emre Belozoglu after the final whistle, as Trabzonspor held on to a crucial 2-1 win.
Mikel and Belozoglu ‘had to be separated by team-mates’ with unrest among both sides because Trabzonspor’s wins means they overtook Fenerbahce into third in the league.
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