Turkish World Cup broadcaster Murat Ekrem Cimen was suspended after a string of errors involving Iran and New Zealand during the 2026 tournament coverage
Turkish broadcaster Murat Ekrem Cimen was taken off World Cup duty after mixing up the two sides during Iran’s group-stage clash against New Zealand. Cimen is one of Turkey’s most seasoned football journalists, boasting more than 30 years in the industry.
His blunder during the 2026 World Cup left viewers stunned, given his esteemed reputation. For roughly four minutes, Cimen confused the two teams and incorrectly identified the players on the pitch.
Iran were dressed in white and New Zealand in black — a stark contrast that was plain for all to see, both for the 70,108 supporters inside SoFi Stadium and those watching at home on FS1, Tele, and Peacock. Yet Cimen continued to muddle the teams throughout the match, reports the Mirror US.
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football’s Facebook page
Footage of his errors spread rapidly across social media, with countless viewers questioning how such a blunder could occur on the world’s biggest footballing stage. Turkish state broadcaster TRT subsequently suspended Cimen from covering the remainder of the tournament.
“We apologize to our viewers and the public for this error,” wrote TRT. “It is unacceptable for TRT that someone with over 30 years of experience in sports broadcasting would make such a mistake.”
The broadcaster reportedly recognised Cimen’s extensive career and reputation within Turkish sports media before announcing that he would be taken off the team’s World Cup broadcast coverage for the remainder of the matches in the United States.
The suspension sparked debate amongst viewers about the pressures facing live commentators, while also criticising the network for its original pairing decision and overall broadcasting standards.
One viewer on X posted, “I’ve been saying since the cup started, there’s a disgraceful choice of commentators.”
A second World Cup viewer commented, “TRT is giving a really poor performance in the World Cup, even inserting ads during water breaks.”
Another remarked, “We’re paying so much tax to TRT. We need funny things. You left us with a nice smile, TRT, thanks.”
Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now!
The backlash was so severe that it resulted in technical issues on Cimen’s Instagram page following a wave of hostile attention. His linked X account also vanished after the blunder.
Several of Cimen’s colleagues have subsequently defended his credibility and professional record over the years.
Turkish Beyaz TV commentator Ertem Sener posted, “My colleague made a mistake, yes, but the utterly outrageous personal insults directed at him are deeply upsetting to me.
“He has a family! Murat didn’t commit a shameful crime; he made a professional error, and he didn’t do it alone,” he continued. “This profession is far too honorable to be fodder for the hyenas on social media.”
Upgrade your World Cup TV setup with the Sky Glass ‘designed for football’
Sky is knocking 20% off its entire range of Glass TVs to mark the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Until June 17, shoppers can upgrade to the Sky smart TV that’s ‘designed for football’ from £4.50 per month when taken alongside a Sky TV and Netflix package.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login