As Borna Barisic potentially prepares to end his stint at Rangers, he could soon be playing behind closed doors with Trabzonspor.
The 31-year-old Croatian international left-back is out of contract at Ibrox in the summer and there have been extensive links to the Turkish Super Lig side.
But whilst fresh opportunity potentially awaits Borna Barisic in Turkey, the latest news coming out of Trabzonspor means he could be in for a rocky start.
This is because the Turkish side have just been handed a six-game behind-closed-doors ban by the nation’s footballing authorities.
Borna Barisic to make Trabzonspor debut behind closed doors?
The ban relates to an on-pitch riot from last month in the clash between Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce.
Fans streamed onto Papara Park in Trabzon after Rangers-linked Michy Batshuayi had scored what proved to be the eventual winner in the 87th minute of the match.
The incident made global headlines after videos of Fenerbahce players defending themselves against assaulting Trabzonspor fans went viral.
The scenes were condemned as “absolutely unacceptable” by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and now the Turkish Football Federation’s disciplinary council have taken action.
Trabzonspor have been handed that six-game home stadium ban, with the sanction set to carry into next season.
The 3rd place Super Lig side have four home league games to go this season, whilst they are also set to host Fatih Karagumruk in the Turkish Cup semi-final later this month.
It means that, at the very least, Trabzonspor’s first home game next season will be behind closed doors, meaning Borna Barisic’s home debut for the club could be played without any fans.
Fenerbahce players Jayden Oosterwolde and Irfan Can Egribayat have also been handed one match bans for clashing with rival fans, whilst Trabzonspor’s assistant manager Egemen Korkmaz has been banned from the dressing room and bench for one game.
Trabzonspor have also been fined 3m Turkish lira (£75,000).
Rangers teammate also linked to Turkey
It certainly adds an extra dimension to those Trabzonspor links to Rangers star Borna Barisic.
Whilst there is nothing signed, sealed, or delivered just yet, the Croatian’s exit from Ibrox looks nailed on with apparently only one of the club’s out of contract stars to be handed a new deal.
With John Lundstram also out of contract, Clement has been clear that he expects the midfielder to come to an agreement, so it’s not so difficult to join the dots.
Interestingly, Trabzonspor have also been linked with a move for John Lundstram.
That means if an unlikely move for the Rangers star was to materialise, then he could also make his debut behind closed doors.
