Trabzonspor midfielder Didier Zokora seemed to take matters into his own hands -- or feet -- during a match against Fenerbahce on Sunday. The Ivorian player wound up and delivered a powerful kick to the groin of an opponent who was previously disciplined for directing racist remarks at him.
After the Turkish clubs met previously in April, Zokora, formerly of Tottenham, claimed that Emre, formerly of Newcastle, insulted him with a racial slur.
While Emre did admit to trash talk, he was adamant in his denial of any racial context. Nevertheless, he was slapped by the Turkish Football Federation with a ban of two matches. According to the BBC, the suspension could have been longer if the allegations had been proven conclusively.
Given his foul on Sunday, the two-match ban may not have satisfied Zokora. According to the Daily Mail, he refused to shake Emre's hand before the game. The video above shows that avoiding the handshake was a far gentler gesture than what transpired once the game began. Despite the vicious nature of the kick, Zokora received only a yellow card.
Having traded insult for injury, Emre's Fenerbahce earned a 3-1 win to move up to second place in the league standings.