A commentator working at the World Cup was fired after he made a forbidden reference
A former World Cup commentator lost his job mid-match after uttering a forbidden name. Commentator Alper Bakircigil was suddenly fired at half-time during Morocco’s clash against Canada at World Cup 2022 after seemingly upsetting his bosses.
Turkish caller Bakircigil was overseeing the group-stage fixture at the last World Cup when Hakim Ziyech opened the scoring early on. And that encouraged Bakircigil to compare the strike with the all-time fastest World Cup strike converted by Hakan Sukur.
However, the comment didn’t go down well with state broadcaster TRT, whom he was working for when he made the remark. As a result, Bakircigil was informed of his sacking midway through Morocco’s 2-1 victory and sent packing that same day, leaving the public to draw the natural conclusion on those two incidents being linked.
The commentator’s social media accounts were subsequently taken down, though he was quoted in one post at the time setting out his account of events. It read: “I was cut off from the TRT institution, where I worked proudly for many years, after the event that took place today. Separation is included in love. Hope to see you again. Goodbye.”
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Sukur, 54, still holds the record for the fastest goal in World Cup history, having netted after just 11 seconds against co-hosts South Korea at the 2002 tournament. The Galatasaray legend also remains his nation’s all-time leading scorer with 51 international goals and was once regarded as a modern icon.
Yet the mere mention of his name has become a cause for unease in Turkey. That’s after the former politician’s alleged involvement in the failed 2016 coup attempt to overthrow Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Sukur fled to the United States in 2015 and was subsequently charged with membership of the Gulen (or Hizmet) movement, which has been designated a terrorist organisation. The once-beloved football icon has worked as an Uber driver during his time in America, while also reportedly establishing a football school for boys.
After seven-and-a-half years living in California, Sukur announced in April 2023 that he and his family had been granted their green cards. This gives them the right to live and work in the country indefinitely, provided they abide by immigration laws.
The former Blackburn striker has also previously claimed that all of his assets and property in Turkey were seized by the government. He has consistently protested his innocence, previously telling German newspaper Welt Am Sonntag: “I have nothing left.
“[Turkey president Recep Tayyip] Erdogan took everything. My right to freedom, my right to freedom of speech and my right to work. I never did anything illegal. I am not a traitor or a terrorist.”
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Despite his defiance, Sukur’s name remains a divisive one in Turkey. Once celebrated as the standout star of his era, the five-time Turkish Footballer of the Year is now regarded as something of a forbidden topic in public discourse, particularly on state television.
The World Cup, meanwhile, is building towards its dramatic conclusion, with the final set to take place this Sunday at 8pm UK time.
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