The sports community in Turkey and some other parts of the world have faulted referee Alper Ulusoy and Video Assistant Referee (VAR), for disallowing a sensational bicycle kick goal by Nigerian striker, Olanrewaju Kayode, during a Turkish Super Lig match between Galatasaray and Gaziantep FC.
The match ended 3-3 at the Galatasaray home stadium, but it would have finished 4-3 in Gaziantep’s favour, if Kayode’s goal was not wrongly disallowed by the referee. Kayode, a former Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles star, netted a stunning overhead kick during the game.
The match had all the trappings of a headline fixture and in retrospect, did deliver it, accentuated by the overhead kick by Kayode that rested in the back of the net. It was a spectacular goal from a fantastic player that Kayode is, lifting his body from the ground in a rhythmic and calculated manner to connect his right foot in motion with the ball in full flight.
As the ball ruffled and rested at the back of Galatasaray net, teammates of Kayode at Gaziantep were halted in their celebratory procession by the centre referee, who ruled the goal would not count because of an infraction in the build-up to Kayode’s unprecedented bicycle kick.
But for what many individuals in the Turkish sports community deemed as wrong call by the match officials, Kayode’s bicycle kick goal, a rarity in European football leagues, could easily have been a top contender for the goal of the Turkish Super Light 2019-2020 season.
Recalling the drama that ensued in the injury time of the game, a football expert in Turkey said: “It all started from the right wing in the middle of the centre circle, as Galatasaray defense wanted to get away with the ball, Twumasi’s shot was on the field of play Okan was in the middle of Kenan Özer, who took the spinning ball. Kayode did an overhead kick and brought the ball together with the net in Galatasaray’s six yards box.
“The bulk of fans took to social media to vent out their frustration and displeasure over Kayode’s goal. Many who went to the instagram page of Kayode said the goal was too good, faultless and beautiful to be denied the talented Nigerian striker.
“As at 7:38pm, West African Time, the video clip of the Kayode’s bicycle kick goal on Instagram, had generated 4, 147 views. Also, the trending video had generated about 109 comments as at the same time of the v4, 147 views.
“Interestingly, nearly all the persons who posted their comments affirmed that the goal should not have been disallowed.” The fan said.
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