He should have been sent off - Turkish referees claim that Osimhen deserves a red card for his action

A fiery Istanbul derby between Galatasaray and Besiktas ended in a 1-1 draw last Saturday in the Turkish League.

However, the main talking point was a heated altercation involving Osimhen, who fought with a Besiktas player.

The Nigerian striker clashed with Besiktas defender Emirhan Topçu after going down from a challenge, leading to Osimhen grabbing Topçu by the collar of his shirt. 

Despite the aggressive confrontation, which saw fellow Nigerian Wilfred Ndidi intervene to de-escalate the situation, referee Yasin Kol only issued yellow cards to both players.

The decision not to send Osimhen off has been widely criticised by several prominent Turkish refereeing experts. 

According to reports from Duhuliye, many believe the Galatasaray forward was fortunate to remain on the field.

Bünyamin Gezer, a retired referee, argued that Osimhen should have been dismissed for two bookable offences. 

"Osimhen’s move on Jurasek earned him a yellow card, and his move on Emirhan earned him a minimum yellow card," Gezer stated. "He should have been sent off for a double yellow card."

Former assistant referee Bahattin Duran was even more direct, insisting the action warranted a straight red card. 

"The move Osimhen made towards Emirhan was a clear red card. Emirhan should have received a yellow card and Osimhen should have received a red card," Duran commented.

More officiating experts have condemned the on-field decision. Referee pundit Ahmet Çakar declared, "The position where Osimhen choked his opponent is a clear red card. Galatasaray should have been down to nine men."

FIFA-listed referee Bülent Yıldırım and former official Deniz Çoban echoed this sentiment, agreeing that Osimhen’s conduct deserved a harsher penalty. 

"He squeezed Emirhan’s throat with intolerable force and violence. Osimhen should see a red card," Yıldırım noted.