Turkish Kocaelispor Coach Sent Off After Ordering Bench to Leave Field in Penalty Protest

A bizarre protest unfolded during a Turkish Super Lig match on Saturday when Kocaelispor coach Selçuk İnan instructed his reserve players and technical staff to leave the substitutes' bench in objection to a referee's decision during his team's encounter with Konyaspor.

The incident occurred in the final minutes of the game after the referee awarded a controversial penalty kick, which enraged the coach, leading him to engage in strong protests against the decision.

As a protest, İnan decided to instruct his substitute players and technical staff to vacate the bench and head to the dressing rooms, signaling his complete rejection of the referee's call. The score was tied 1-1 at the time, and Konyaspor ultimately secured a 2-1 victory thanks to the penalty in the 90+4th minute.

The incident did not end there, as the referee subsequently showed the Turkish coach a red card for his persistent objections.

Despite the tense atmosphere, the match continued normally until its conclusion. The team did not withdraw from the field, with the protest limited solely to the substitutes and staff leaving the bench.