Ibrahim Olawoyin experienced a rollercoaster evening in the Turkish Süper Lig on Sunday, providing an assist before being sent off in Rizespor’s dramatic 3-2 defeat to Fenerbahçe.

Rizespor came flying out of the blocks, storming into a two-goal lead within the opening 13 minutes.

Olawoyin played a key role, setting up Ali Sowe’s opener in the 6th minute.

The Gambian forward doubled the advantage just seven minutes later, putting the visitors in control.

However, Olawoyin’s promising night took a turn for the worse when he received a yellow card in the 22nd minute.

That caution would prove costly, as he picked up a second booking just before halftime, reducing Rizespor to ten men and conceding a penalty in the process.

Referee Burak Pakkan show red card to Ibrahim Olawoyin during the Turkish Super League match between Fenerbahce and Caykur Rizespor at Ulker Sukru Saracoglu Stadium. (Photo by Seskim Photo/MB Media/Getty Images)

Turning Point: Controversial Penalty Decision

Olawoyin’s dismissal became the game’s major talking point, with his second yellow card resulting in a contentious penalty for Fenerbahçe.

Edin Džeko stepped up and converted from the spot, cutting Rizespor’s lead to 2-1 at the break.

The second half saw even more drama as Rizespor were further reduced to nine men when Rachid Ghezzal was sent off in the 77th minute.

With the numerical advantage, Fenerbahçe turned the tide. Džeko bagged his second goal to equalize, before Youssef En-Nesyri struck in the 89th minute to seal a dramatic comeback victory for Jose Mourinho’s side.

Olawoyin’s Impact Before Red Card

Despite his early exit, Olawoyin was instrumental in Rizespor’s strong start. Before his dismissal, he managed 22 touches, 11 completed passes (79% accuracy), 1 key pass and 3 ground duels won

However, his sending-off proved pivotal as Rizespor struggled to hold onto their lead.

Galatasaray’s Outrage Over Officiating

The controversial nature of Olawoyin’s red card and the subsequent penalty decision sparked fury among Galatasaray officials, who accused the Turkish Football Federation of favoring Fenerbahçe.

The club took to social media to blast the use of foreign VAR officials, claiming officiating decisions were being manipulated to benefit their rivals.

“These thieves, who never stop talking about rights and laws but do not hesitate to resort to any means to win, continue to steal their opponents’ efforts on the field.”

“For them, foreign VAR is not there to bring justice to football but to provide privileges and make unfair decisions”

Galatasaray also referenced a similar incident in their recent match against Konyaspor, where Victor Osimhen was denied a penalty despite being heavily marked by four defenders in the box.

With the league title race heating up, the controversy only adds fuel to an already intense rivalry. Galatasaray remains top of the table with 54 points and a game in hand, maintaining a three-point cushion over Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe.