A club and “its” president: Recep Tayyip Erdogan (centre) with a Fenerbahce shirt in 2017
Image: AFP
After the devastating earthquake, football fans in the stadiums are demanding the Turkish president’s resignation. The fact that Fenerbahce supporters also take this line is not a good sign for Erdogan.
Whe Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his governing party, the AKP, must pause for thought when the concentrated anger about the state and government’s crisis management erupted in Istanbul’s football stadiums over the weekend.
Süper Lig games were scheduled for the first time since the earthquake disaster of 6 February and, to an extent that had not been expected, crowds in packed stadiums at top-flight clubs Fenerbahce and Besiktas called for the government’s resignation.
“Lies and Fraud for 20 years, resign”
When Fenerbahce played Konyaspor, a club close to the AKP, fans and Ultras chanted: “Lying and cheating for 20 years, resign.” Government, resign!” They expressed their solidarity with the earthquake victims at the beginning of the game by throwing stuffed animals and other children’s toys from the stands. When the police took away a Besiktas supporter, the stadium boiled. However, the broadcaster turned down the volume.