Trabzonspor's 1-1 draw with İstanbul Başakşehir on Sunday was marred by controversy as head coach Fatih Tekke accused the opposition of committing "obvious fouls" on Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu. Onuachu, returning from injury, was largely neutralised during the match, managing only seven touches in the opposition box despite his physical presence. He was fouled twice as Başakşehir's defenders applied tight, physical marking to limit his influence on the game. Tekke expressed frustration after the match, stating, "There were obvious fouls on Onuachu. The opponent gained an advantage from these situations. I'm uncomfortable with these things." He also criticised the refereeing decisions, particularly around a corner incident involving Augusto, saying, "There's no standard in the decisions. Everyone is already complaining about the referees." Despite his quiet outing, Onuachu remains a key figure for Trabzonspor this season, scoring 24 goals and registering two assists in 29 appearances across all competitions. The result leaves Trabzonspor in contention for the league title and a European qualification spot with only a few matches remaining in the campaign.
Onuachu's seven touches in the box despite 24 goals this season shows how easily his impact can be nullified when defenders target him physically. Tekke's complaints highlight a reliance on one player that becomes a tactical vulnerability when referees allow tight marking to go unpunished. With Onuachu central to Trabzonspor's attack, his silencing against Başakşehir exposes the team's limited alternatives in crucial moments.
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