Super Eagles defender Chibuike Nwaiwu has been handed a two-match suspension by the UEFA Disciplinary Committee following his dismissal in Trabzonspor’s UEFA Europa League play-off first-leg defeat to Ferencváros, according to Turkish publication Haberler, Trybal News reports.
Nwaiwu received a direct red card in the sixth minute of stoppage time as Trabzonspor suffered a 1-0 home defeat to the Hungarian side at Papara Park on August 20. The Nigerian centre-back was dismissed for violent conduct after Kristoffer Zachariassen had given Ferencváros the lead in the 17th minute.
The defender had played the full 90 minutes before his dismissal, having started all three of Trabzonspor’s competitive matches this season. He featured in the club’s 1-1 draw against Kasımpaşa and their 2-1 victory over Başakşehir.
Nwaiwu’s suspension means he will miss Thursday’s Europa League play-off second leg against Ferencváros in Hungary. His two-match ban will also rule him out of another subsequent UEFA fixture, creating an additional defensive concern for Trabzonspor.
The timing of the suspension is particularly significant, with Trabzonspor needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit in the return leg to secure their place in the Europa League league phase.
Trabzonspor will now have to find an alternative at centre-back as they attempt to keep their European campaign alive without one of their regular defenders.
