Key Takeaways
- Victor Osimhen scored twice (29th and 44th min) as Galatasaray beat Fenerbahce 2-1 at RAMS Park in Istanbul derby — 9th round Turkish Super Lig.
- Fenerbahce coach İsmail Kartal slammed him after: “Very good player, energetic, very good striker but he lacks character… scored twice and started disrespecting Fenerbahce fans and our players.”
- #GALFEN and #BallonDor trend as Osimhen’s celebration sparks unsportsmanlike debate — Galatasaray extend lead at top.
“ He lacks character.”
Three words. That’s all it took for İsmail Kartal to turn a 2-1 derby loss into a global debate.
His team had just lost to Galatasaray. Victor Osimhen had just scored twice in the 29th and 44th minutes. The logical headline: Osimhen brace sinks Fenerbahce. But Kartal, facing cameras at RAMS Park, flipped it.
“Very good player. Very good striker. But he should be a role model.”
The Fenerbahce coach, back for his third stint after resigning last month after being hit by a bottle vs Roma, looked into cameras and said:
“ Victor Osimhen is a very good player, energetic and a very good striker but he lacks character. A player of his level is supposed to be a role model for younger ones. He scored twice and started disrespecting Fenerbahce fans and our players. That’s unsportsmanlike behavior and should never be encouraged. The opposition are filled with emotions and acting like that towards them is insensitive.”
Unsportsmanlike. Lacks character. Disrespecting fans.
Strong words. And in Turkey, where GALFEN is more than football — it’s religion, politics, family feud — those words travel fast.
What did Osimhen actually do? Videos show after his second goal, he ran towards Fenerbahce’s away end, cupped his ears, then did his signature mask celebration but pointed at the badge. Some say he shouted. Fenerbahce players — including Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who confronted Roland Sallai after final whistle — felt it was provocation. The Sun reported mass brawl after derby, stars wrestling to ground.
But Galatasaray fans saw different. To them, it’s passion. This is a man who returned after summer break, scored in friendlies, then delivered in biggest game. Two goals in first half, game sealed. If you can’t celebrate scoring twice in a derby, when can you?
One user on X wrote, “ Kartal calling Osimhen unsportsmanlike after he scored twice? My brother, your defence was unsportsmanlike for letting him score twice. 😂 #GALFEN”
Reacting, @ GalatasarayYoruba said, “ Osimhen lacks character? He showed character by scoring. Fenerbahce coach should teach his defenders character to mark.”
Another, @FenerFanTR, countered, “ He is right. Osimhen is world class but celebration was disrespect. He should be role model. Kartal said what others fear to say.”
That split is why it’s trending under #BallonDor and #GALFEN — tonight is Ballon d’Or night in London where Burna Boy just presented Socrates Award to Saka, Harry Kane glitch leaked winners, and now Turkish derby drama. Osimhen, who finished high in Ballon d’Or voting in 2023, knows both worlds.
This isn’t new for Osimhen. Pulse Sports has flagged him before — “Fans blast Osimhen for thuggery behaviour,” “Slammed for poor body language.” Turkish commentator Ertem Şener once said “ Osimhen was very bad” after a 1-1 draw with Fenerbahce where he was caged. Now he’s very good but “lacks character.” He can’t win.
Kartal, meanwhile, is under pressure. Fenerbahce dropped to fifth earlier this month, his resignation denied by club. Attacking Osimhen after losing derby is easy deflection.
