Trabzonspor head coach Fatih Tekke has expressed frustration over what he described as “obvious fouls” committed against Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu during their 1-1 draw with İstanbul Başakşehir at the Papara Stadium on Sunday.

Onuachu, who recently returned from injury, struggled to make a decisive impact as he was closely marked and frequently disrupted by physical defending.

The former Southampton forward had limited involvement, recording just seven touches in the opposition box and was fouled twice as Başakşehir’s defensive line sought to neutralise his aerial and physical threat.

Speaking after the match, Tekke criticised the treatment of the Nigerian international, stressing that it contributed to his lack of impact on the match while also giving an advantage to the opponents.

"There were obvious fouls on Onuachu,” he said via Yenimesaj. “The opponent gained an advantage from these situations. I'm uncomfortable with these things.”

He also questioned the consistency in the decisions and expressed broader concerns about the standard of refereeing.

“There was a ball from a corner and Augusto's position. There's no standard in the decisions. Everyone is already complaining about the referees,” he added.

Despite failing to make an impact against Başakşehir, Onuachu has remained one of the club’s standout performers this season, with his contributions helping the team stay in contention for the league title.

The 31-year-old has scored 24 goals and provided two assists in 29 appearances across all competitions, underlining his attacking threat for the Turkish side.

With only a few matches left in the campaign, Onuachu will be eager to maintain his strong form as Trabzonspor push for both the league title and a European qualification spot.

Adeyemi Adewale