The Footballer Who Was Cancelled

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Hakan Şükür should be written into Turkish footballing history. He scored the fastest goal in FIFA World Cup history, and he is the all-time leading scorer in the Turkish Süper Lig.
However, in Turkey, his accomplishments have been deleted from public record. Why? Because of his apparent political position, and his subsequent exile.
This is the story of how Hakan Şükür lost his place in the history books, how his close relationship with the leaders of Turkey put him in an uncompromising position, and how he had to rebuild his life in the USA.
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#Turkey

[@Tifo]

Sorry about that, everyone. As we mentioned earlier, the image we used for Fethullah Gülen was wrong and we thought it best to put that right, rather than just leave the pinned comment. Apologies for the delay, but that process isn't as quick as it sounds. Enjoy the video and the rest of your days. Tifo.

[@hb3393]

As long as Tifo haven't been cancelled 😅

[@ONEMADKILLERx]

"The rest of your days" sounds very ominous

[@Caoimhin1909]

The rest of my what? Tifo are terrorists confirmed.

[@Omar_Little]

@@hb3393 the podcast has been cancelled 😢

[@Kodakcompactdisc]

That’s ok

[@wordofthewords]

As a Turkish (former) journalist, I am impressed by your exhaustive research on this piece. The storytelling is top-notch. Thanks.

[@bekirsahin13]

Agreed.

[@StoutProper]

I didn’t realise Turkey had full Stalinist

[@marco26gdm]

@@StoutProper He (Erdogan) did a Trotzki on Sükür 😢

[@MrMamooshka]

You're going to love Wikipedia mate.

[@sitecocu]

kes şan fetöcü

[@MonkeyzTrip]

How was this never a huge story? That's insane! Hakan Sükür was a legend. I was 8 when he scored that goal in 2002 and even I remember it, and I'm not Turkish, just a football fan

[@russellbekberov1341]

same here! I also was 8 and was enjoying the Turkish team at the tournament! Hakan Sükür was a top.

[@NiedGnol]

@@russellbekberov1341 I remember his performance at the tournament was poor. But yes, he's a legend. I still remember the commentator kept saying that he was one of the greatest Turkish footballers. Cant imagine what has happened to him then.

[@habesha6883]

I was also 8…I’ve watched the World Cup with my dad but I can only remember players and not the matches coz we use to give the names of the players each other as nicknames..I remember Hasan Sas: Sukur: Rustu the goalie

[@miloufromsaigon]

Same here

[@CimbomFanFiction]

@@habesha6883aaaand Ilhan Mansizzz

[@broefkip]

The fact that a commentator was removed in half time for only speaking his name says a lot about the type of country Turkey has become... It makes me sad because I never had or have bad experiences with Turkish people and I always loved going on vacation to Turkey.

[@henxiety]

As it is with most countries, its the governments that ruin their name rather than the wonderful people

[@henxiety]

@PCBXXVI Im referring to more than just Turkey btw

[@tigercap100]

The shittiest country to play in European football Fascists.

[@ONEin1000xD]

@@henxiety Muslim are born a twit 🤮🤮🤮

[@crispykneecaps7209]

The part where his father was imprisoned for his son's political views also really stood out for me. Does anyone know if his father has been released?

[@xtk7]

The funny thing is, Hao Haidong, the Chinese all time top scorer, who played against Suker in the third round group stage in 2002 world cup, was also canceled on Chinese internet, for similar reasons.

[@huykim4663]

And his wife, a badminton Olympic bronze medalist (if I’m not mistaken)

[@emrebilgi]

I'm Turkish and I didn't know that. Excellent interesting point.

[@timlamiam]

I will always remember Hakan Sukur, and I'm not even Turkish by any means. That 02 world cup was the first one i followed start to finish. That Cinderella run was unbelievable.

[@WOOOPdoctorFROGhere]

Their euro 2008 run was very memorable too. So many late goals

[@molh394]

that 2002 Turkish squad was bonkers good. I swear they would have defeated Germany too had they actually met them in the knockouts. Only that legendary Brazil team were gonna beat them that tournament, just that it happened in the semis

[@Damnnnbruh]

Shhshh hes cancelled

[@akshay_9146]

Same, Hasan Sas, Tugay, Rustu and Hakan Sukur were just brilliant in that team.

[@KitagumaIgen]

During the 02 World Cup I lived in Japan, and to my German office-mate I was very dismissive of the Turkish team - because 2 years before during the Euros they and my Swedish team played the worst international game ever. I could not believe in such an improvement in only 2 years.

[@edinibrahimovic9875]

I actually played a pick up game with Hakan Sukur in California, without knowing who he was at that time. A great baller and friendly man.

[@hanyuzhu7276]

Was he still good?

[@TimmacTR]

You have to give more details mate.. xD

[@artorious6672]

Late 90's early 00's here in Romania we worshiped him. As Hagi and Popescu played for Galatasaray. Sukur was an awesome striker. One of the few strikers to understand Hagi's passes. What a player!

[@LEOMasanielloOfficial]

Hagi! What a magician!

[@_Meet_]

Kinda unique how Hagi and Popescu have always been together lmao. Steaua, Barcelona, Galatasaray. Popescu being Hagi's brother in law, and now one is the manager and other the chairman of the current Romanian champions, Farul

[@S3N3CA86]

Georgio Hagi was one of the best

[@HeisenbergFam]

Video is so good Tifo felt compelled to reupload this fine piece yet again

[@LuisFigo4]

Imagine getting an Uber in California and it's Sukur driving

[@lezzyy1165]

and the crazy thing is 99% of people wouldn't even know it

[@stan.stawski]

I wouldn't mind both Suker and Sukur!

[@Josep_Hernandez_Lujan]

@EgeKhan666 The Turkish government seized his money

[@__________________________....]

​@@lezzyy1165if messi was driving their uber most Americans wouldn't know 💀

[@HintenImBus]

@@__________________________.... u right

[@legafootballpod]

Absolutely brilliant from Tifo. This is why we interviewed the great Hakan Sükür a few months ago where we touched on his current predicament. No one should be cancelled, nor jailed for opposing views.

[@stevencooke1027]

Turkiye's descent into authoritarianism is deeply saddening. With yesterday's election the oppression will only worsen.

[@TheUKNutter]

They shouldn't, yet it seems to happen all the time. Even in western countries. Just look at social media.

[@Cartman-Official]

They literally did a military coup in Turkey what did u want to happen

[@nadirmammadli7740]

they tried to ruin country by coup

[@azizalfa752]

@@stevencooke1027nah Erdogan is the right leader for turkey hakan betrayed us

[@BoereViking]

If you do not believe in freedom of speech for those you despise... You do not believe in it at all!

[@jamilm4668]

I'm from Singapore and am a fan of Erdogan

[@Czekaje]

​@@jamilm4668 my sympathy to Singapore for that.

[@echo5935]

@@Czekaje what do you mean, erdogan is a great president

[@squireltag1000]

​@@echo5935 youre welcome to your opinion, but its a simple one. Maybe he was good once, or still is sometimes, but not on the whole. He jails opponents, calls peaceful people terrorists, and censors the news. Doesnt seem to me like things a 'good' president should be doing.

[@paulie-g]

There's a difference between distasteful speech and a violent anti-democratic coup.

[@alexanderarden2152]

Hakan Sukur has a claim to being the best Turkish player of all time. Sad what has happened to him ; /

[@uncreative5766]

The sad thing about his coffee shop was that he evidently left the business partnership because he said some "strange men" came to see him. He suspected that they came from Turkey on behalf of Erdogan.

[@Matthew-bu7fg]

not as good as arda turan or tugay for me

[@ghjklkop7868]

@@Matthew-bu7fg Tugay Kerimoglu? Now that's a good shout

[@GardEngebretsen]

You make it sound like an act of God. What you mean is "what has been done to him".

[@rossl5908]

​@@Matthew-bu7fgTugay ! Grew up watching him live at Ibrox play for the famous Glasgow Rangers

[@nirvaya]

Those who saw him play know what his impact to the game was! No matter what the despots who try to cancel him do, he will be in millions of minds for decades to come!

[@dansuzuki3502]

This is crazy to me. He came to one of my trainings about 7 years ago and never heard any of this now. He seemed like a decent lad then.

[@giacomocasanova2418]

What makes you think he's isnt a decent lad now?

[@gobuns2]

​​@@giacomocasanova2418as also told in the video he was in the erdoğan and gülen chamber. so not an innocent guy if you know turkish politics. maybe what he did doesn't have a penalty in law, and maybe he was actually treated poorly. won't change my opinion of him. as a galatasaray fan, too.

[@gobuns2]

and the people that got the wrong end of the stick from that whole affair, including him, never seem regretful of their involvement. he shoots youtube videos and goes on and on about how he didn't deserve this, how the others did wrong to him. you should have seen his bunch when they were yet thriving. they were pretty nasty. lots of blackmails, murders and powerplay.

[@Amanwholovesgood_stories69]

​@@gobuns2 yea true when you are talking about turkish politics unless the person you are talking about is ismet İnönü or Atatürk they probably were involved with something shady.

[@gobuns2]

@@Amanwholovesgood_stories69 oh they must have had their own share of shade but nothing you can't really justify :D

[@AngryFurki]

Its unreal how precise and onpoint your research is about this topic as someone who is not a native. Very informative and well produced video

[@gunnarmh]

I remember Hakan Sukur so well, as someone who is absolutely not from Turkey. Amazed by this.

[@liamburns8554]

I found this heartbreaking.. A legend

[@depekthegreat359]

He is a legend whom I liked the most ever and he is Turkish's all time hero,good friends!!!LONG LIVE HAKAN SUKUR SIR!!!🏋️‍♂️

[@hamzasa.]

Wow, Tifo nailed it with this video! It's hands down the most in-depth/accurare analysis out there in such short time. Huge props to you for taking on such a tricky and politically charged topic.

[@anthcmt]

This reminds me of Hao Haidong from China. He's also the record goal scorer of the China national football team but was cancelled because of his political views.

[@srseki]

Sick man of Europe and sick man of Asia

[@leviathan8243]

Being fanatic of a islamic extremist group isn’t just a “political view”

[@kadirmean10]

As one of his fans from Turkey, he deserved nothing he experienced. He served for his country more than many people. He only became the victim of game of thrones. I appreciate this video. It's well-prepared.

[@falconeshield]

Pro tip: you're an ex athlete or footballer. A Putin type of 'leader' is your PM. Do NOT enter politics. You're a big name everyone recognises, you're a great scapegoat.

[@W0o0o0o0o0W]

are you worried about the future of your country regarding the recent elections?

[@emrebilgi]

@@falconeshield Even had he not entered politics at all, he would still have faced this same fate because of his links to the Gülenists. Even very ordinary people did.

[@ataalkinnergis4215]

Writing this from Pennysylvania I guess?

[@tuborgselim876]

he only became the victim of game of thrones when he tried to be a part of the game. So he well deserved what happend to him. It is ofc sad but well deserved. You can be sad about the little pawns in game but not the other big pieces like him.

[@danielklein5829]

Thank you for using the actual definition of cancelled! Not a player saying something racist/homophobic getting pushback or someone committing a violent crime receiving punishment - but an actual instance of political forces conspiring to completely remove a person from the public record

[@cagangultekin8469]

ngl as a turkish person he kinda deserved it

[@ecg8510]

​@@cagangultekin8469of course you are turkish

[@adrian-dragosbalaban6401]

So was Trotsky just cancelled, then?

[@Etikal]

@@cagangultekin8469 « as an uneducated caveman » fits better

[@leviathan8243]

@@ecg8510 group he was supporting were islamic extremist? So what are we going normalize fanatics of el kaida too?

[@CeoOfOwn]

One of the best left foots in football.

[@raphaelmapp8407]

Feet on fire like Sanji😅

[@PolatAlemdar2023]

He wasn’t a left footer tho

[@JordanPlural]

I had yo girl on my left foot

[@MrMamooshka]

Did you even watch Hakan Şükür play? The majority of his goals came from aerial situations. His left foot wasn't even the best in the Galatasaray team he played in with Hagi and Emre Belözoğlu in the ranks.

[@MsJukijuki]

Galatasaray, Hagi and Hakan Sukur! 2 artist! same era as Hristo Stoichkov. easter europe is full of legends that people seems to forgot. thank you Tifo footballto remembering them.

[@lethargicmosquito]

these names will forever be alive in the streets brother.... true football fans know more than Messi and Cristiano

[@oldnaijafootball]

Turkey are pretty messed up for going through all this stress. How long can they keep it up tho? Sukur is by far their greatest ever player. The 2002 World Cup was special for me as a 10-year old with him Rustu and Ilhan Mansiz in the side. We need to seperate football from politics sometimes.

[@jord.an6123]

Authoritarians will go to any measure to keep the worker in the dark. Look at putins russia or iran or north korea. It never fully works, people always remember, but this serves to "discourage" anyone from openly remembering - if you get what i mean

[@halwa9528]

Turkiye is going to become a non-secular Islamic republic, Erdogan winning 5 elections in a row is enough of a popular mandate that Turkiye no longer wishes to be a secular country, the likes of which Ataturk envisioned. Their economy and democratic dreams are on the brink of oblivion and I worry Erdogan will stay in power till he dies.

[@escape2nirvana]

Dude football has been connected to politics since the start. Look at for example Maradona who justified his hand of god goal against England because of the England invasion of islands that Argentina controlled? Or look how in Italy Inter and Milan represent different political stances. Or even fc st Pauli who are known to be political. Shut up with that nonsense you just typed

[@adamuoldvids7052]

@@escape2nirvana “Milan's derby is one without the political and religious differences ingrained in other derbies around the world. Instead, it has been a rivalry defined primarily by simpler sporting merits, built on a mutual unrelenting desire for trophies and prestige.” The origins and what it has now become are different things. Besides, OP says politics needs to be kept out sometimes, not all the time. Finally, not really fair to equate censorship of a footballing icon to a politically charged German football club who won’t ever censor anything?

[@linusvalinder9980]

@@escape2nirvana why shouldn’t it change then? Your comment makes no sense. Everything doesn’t need to be like it always was. Politics has no space in football

[@Josep_Hernandez_Lujan]

Sukur; Popescu and Hagi were fire with Galatasaray. For shame what they did to him.

[@alpersevinc8342]

As a Turkish Galatasaray fan, I have been following Tifo for years. I'm a little sad about the selection of subject for the first video about Turkish football. On the other hand, congrats for the clear and objective storytelling and accurate description of that period. Love from Turkey, expecting more videos about Turkish football and Galatasaray❤

[@Andre_vyent]

My turkish friends and football mates they told me years ago, hakan sukur is banned from Turkey, and no one mentions his name anymore :(((

[@emrebilgi]

@EzPz-LeMoN-SqUeEzY Yea How brutal, isn't it? What era is it? Dark ages? My Turkey has never had a people's revolution to earn a republic and democracy. Atatürk just gave us that one morning. So we badly take it for granted and select/worship autocrats.

[@kingicedragon_yt2265]

Thank you for spreading this man’s story Tifo. As a Turkish person this story is good enough even though you need to know Guven is not a terrorist but he is just a victim that was accused.

[@cfcmnotho7851]

He was canceled so much that even this video was canceled

[@KenDouSip]

🇸🇳 remembers Turkish 2002 team , they knocked us out the competition. Rustu , emre b. great team

[@FarukAhmet]

Re-uploaded, because the photo they used in the original for Fethullah Gülen was wrong, I presume. No other changes as far as I can see.

[@poppinc8145]

And with it deleted all the comments that made counter-points as well.

[@danielkarmy4893]

The one and only reason that somebody would be treated in this way is because those he stood up to were afraid, beyond measure, of him, his influence, and what people would be able to achieve if he were allowed to continue. If damnatio memoriae is an ancient practice, then Turkey is a nation stuck in the dark ages. Turkish people deserve so much more than this.

[@musabcantekin7404]

He deserves be in this position. Before 15 July coup people were warning erdogan and everyone around gülen about their organisation. They were even a mgk( national security board) in 2004 about feto organisation that warned erdogan and government. Before that feto organisation assasinated bunch of journalists such as Necip Hablemitoglu. So Hakan Sukur is as responsible as gülen and erdogan and ı am glad he is cancelled. He was a decent ballet tho ı give him that.

[@halwa9528]

The Turkish people like and want Erdogan in power, he has had a popular mandate for the last twenty plus years. If they wish to become an authoritarian, Islamic republic let them, for isn't democracy about respecting the wishes of the majority of it's people? I hate it and wish for Turkiye to join the EU and become a strong partner of the West but if the people who consistently vote for a man who wants to improve ties with Russia and China and to take Turkiye in a more Islamic direction keeps winning elections who are we to judge what the people want or deserve?

[@squireltag1000]

​@@musabcantekin7404 Tell me you follow the Turkish govt narrative without telling me. What evidence is there to what youre saying? Oh, not enough to convince the wider world of what you're saying... right..

[@paulie-g]

@@squireltag1000 The wider world does not matter and can get f-cked for believing it needs to be convinced of anything. Let the people of Turkiye decide. Typical occidental chauvinism thinking you know more than a Turk.

[@Al-ji4gd]

@@squireltag1000 Turkey doesn't care what the wider world is saying. Turkey understand itself better than Westerners.

[@sukhbirsingh8053]

Hakan Suker and Hasan Sas. Two best Turkish footballers of that generation

[@ahsenserhat9270]

Sad for only the commentator, not Hakan Sukur.

[@thelastmanonearth2631]

He tried to make him sympathetic, and a lot of idiots in the comments bought it, but I don't see why I'm supposed to feel sorry for him. Turkey's systematic efforts to erase him from history is super creepy and liberal though. That's an ick.

[@lavorbitor9711]

If the same thing would happen in Romania to Gheorghe Hagi, who was Hakan Sukur's teammate in the Galatasaray team that won Uefa cup and Uefa super cup, people will flood the streets in Hagi support. No politician in Romania has more influence than Hagi, he is our national hero who made us enjoy the beautiful sport with his magical skills and talent on the ball. Compared with the players that Romanian national team has now, Hagi was an alien, one of the best players in the world at that time, and one of the best players ever., No politican can change that. I hope the best for Turkish people, love from Romania!

[@hanyuzhu7276]

This has me thinking: what if Galatasaray refused to renounce Hakan? Will the Turkish government then shut the club down and its (very, very numerous and fanatical) fans will riot? A gigantic riot that will make the Gazi Quarter Riot looks like child’s play? Will they end up overthrowing the government?

[@ErenD]

Hagi is hero also in Turkey

[@case_5218]

You should have an insight into Malmö FF's new coach and new style of play, it's about relationism football. Very interesting topic. I think it can generate quite a lot of viewers also ;)

[@nst1981]

Just imagine being an amateur defender somewhere in America, you get you football kit on, tie your laces, run out onto the field and see Sukur as the opposition striker

[@finneykewa]

I would turn back around, take off my cleats and go back home.

[@hanyuzhu7276]

@@finneykewa not before getting his autograph

[@hanyuzhu7276]

*chuckles* I’m in danger.

[@finneykewa]

@@hanyuzhu7276 or I’m curious why I don’t play pick up with you lol

[@danwoods4862]

First EVER World Cup finals, since 1954

[@michoseadane5925]

Okay daddy

[@JJD_05]

The first World Cup i watched and followed diligently. I remember him very well, along with his compatriots Hasan Sas, Ilhan Mansiz, Rustu and the guy who was considered having a crazy hair cut back then, Umit Davala.

[@BeruCampos]

I wonder if Hamit Altintop played on this team

[@kingkhaya1115]

Hahaha I remember Umit Davala

[@jesuslombera8871]

He might have been deleted from Turkey but we can still enjoy his goals and highlights here on KZbin 💪🏼

[@smookey187]

Interesting. I remember Hakan Sukur well, a fantastic Target man in his prime, a great goalscorer. This is sad for Turkey. 😢

[@rstkDev]

Now imagine what happens to unknown people with a voice in these countries.

[@sangan7641]

it happens more in your country mate, just not to people with your skin color

[@AManCalledDutch]

@@sangan7641 and what country does he live Sangan? Life is way worse in countries with people with dark skin. The Africans and Middle Eastern people still enslave their own citizens ….

[@theberserker_of_falconia]

Worry about youself

[@TomSmith-li5se]

Not in these countries, in Turkey precisely.

[@squireltag1000]

​@@sangan7641 your response is a complete deflection on the point. Does bad stuff happen everywhere, yes, but it doesnt justify your apathy.

[@nonena8563]

Your way of narrating the complex stories with bullet points is amazing. I, most of the time, have difficulty to explain human right violations in Turkey to foreign fellows. I decided to show this video instead, lol.

[@BigNews2021]

I remember that World Cup and Turkey's run. Insane what happened to him.

[@TenderGames]

Hakan will never be forgotten. True Baller

[@mamaducissemaci929]

It's incredible and always make me cry to get to know how unfair this world is! Hope you are doing well and safe, legend Hakan Sukur!

[@regenfall7058]

I hope you don’t get cancelled in Turkey. Great video. I subscribed.

[@SyedaFatimaShamsi-k6w]

Absolutely brilliant from Tifo. This is why we interviewed the great Hakan Sükür a few months ago where we touched on his current predicament

[@FureKhan]

I've seen people in comments talking about no one should be cancelled about their opposing views. First of all I gotta say that I'm Turkish but I'm not even close to the ideologies of both Gulen's and Erdogan's. I can describe what happened in Turkey between the starting of 00's and to the coup in 2016 as a 'dog fight'. Erdogan is a huge islamist, capitalist dictator who's been doing business with Gulen. He was using Gulen to get more powerful and Gulen was using his force to spread his ideologies which is very opposite to the Turkey's ideologies since the starting of 20th Century. But then with some several issues and a very huge background story they started disagreeing and as Erdogan holds the power he told Gulen is the enemy of the state (where actually both of them are). There were hundreds of thousands people who were a participant in the organisation of FETO where some of them are just not a close participant where some of them had really huge roles both in FETO and in the government. So they just get out of the coumtry after the coup or stayed silent and get to the stealth mode as nothing happened. Some of them were arrested too. That coup had Erdogan earn more power in one night and had the beliefs of all country. Gulen and people around him get what they wanted and Erdogan has still won in elections - just because of his ideological power after the coup - in 2023 may where the inflation rate is around % 70. About Sukur, he was not a very big participant in FETO but as a man with a lot of money he helped them a lot. Did he deserve what happened to him, clearly yes as someone who is a participant to an organisation with very dangerous ideologies to the country. However as someone who's ideologically close to the left in Turkey I hate both Erdogan and Gulen. It's still a very controversial and dangerous topic in Turkey so you better not take a risk and talk about it if you don't want to get arrested. As I'm taking some right now.

[@chrom4ful]

I didn't know about all of these, I seriously thought this video would be about Mesut özil but this is on another level of cancelation

[@fubusupporter5933]

Lmaooo Turkey cracking down on the video 😂😂😂 you guys keep re-uploading it

[@BlueMAGAsocialist]

How could any KZbin video gonna able to hurt Turkey gov ?

[@fubusupporter5933]

@@BlueMAGAsocialist it’s just a joke 😂

[@WeaselSkeeter]

@@BlueMAGAsocialist believe me that gov acts like a bunch of angry little school girls , in germany we are very successful to anger them

[@BlueMAGAsocialist]

@@WeaselSkeeter In terms of broader global geopolitics Turkey gov is irrelevant, I couldn’t care less about Turkey or anti Turkey current gov propaganda. Don’t let the media and tifo tell you otherwise tho.

[@WeaselSkeeter]

@@BlueMAGAsocialist for europe turkeys border politics were important, they got some might through the refugees. Maybe your country never was bullied buy that mad men Erdogan so you never noticed he is psychotic

[@cheyennekumar1362]

You can never erase a oersons history no matter how hard one tries.Iwatched Sükur as a kid.

[@MsJukijuki]

I think 1994 world cup game bulgaria vs romania (or as we football fans remember it Hagi vs Stoichkov) would be really interesting topic for your channel.

[@falconeshield]

Wasn't there a team from 94 that all had disabled kids because of drug use?

[@MsJukijuki]

@@falconeshield No I think you remember -82 Los Angeles Olympic games with U.S.A members like Carl Lewis etc etc

[@theastonvillaseal585]

Such corruption and injustice… we deserve to know the truth

[@StairwellTheCat]

Waking up to a new Tifo vid! Best way to start the week!!!

[@dex4075]

for his acheivements , this sounds like someone who could and maybe should be adored in his home country , seen as a great of the sport

[@encorefootball]

There’s China's top scorer, whose name even gets censored by KZbin and Google.

[@1ewi5]

Hao Haidong? The one that got involved with Miles Kwok? Do you know Miles Kwok and Steve Bannon are now being charged with fraud in US because he cheated many of those investors of their savings? Bunch of frauds really.

[@huykim4663]

Hao Haidong

[@kiranronaldo3274]

This channel is underrated. Thats it. This is the best article I ever saw. Everything in it was a top notch.

[@theodoreyang9539]

Same thing happened in China also. Although by no means as good as Sukur, the all-time top scorer of the Chinese national football team (Hao Haidong) is in exile in US (fun fact, he also played in the 2002 WC). No one will dare to mention his name in public.

[@mattheweyre4032]

I’m getting half the narration in English and the other half in Spanish! It’s actually quite educational

[@TEAMRONALDO1]

I thought it was gonna be Ched Evans

[@alkap91]

How come no MLS club thought of hiring him as a coach or an advisor? the thought of a former world-class striker driving an uber is kind of sad...

[@ZsebtelepHUN]

This is 1950's soviet style cancelling. Its so sad to see this method still being practiced by any authority, especially in Europe, especially since we have a neat video sharing platform which already stored countless footages with Sukur.

[@psalm1197]

Well all our institutions have been infiltrated with Cultural Marxism which is ultimately more dangerous and harmful that Communism.

[@spempo]

@@psalm1197 erdogan is a right winger. Not a marxist.

[@psalm1197]

@@spempo I don’t believe I mentioned Erdogan. But I did make a comment about our institutions

[@danidish2342]

@@spempo It does not make a difference, both governments are autocratic in nature

[@marco26gdm]

@@spempoAuthoritarianism has no political tilt.

[@nawwk79]

Moral of the story: "Never do politics, just retire with your bags of money and enjoy life."

[@hateprotoss]

Wow I did not know that such things happen to him. Definitely, Sukur-Hagi-Umit Dalavat were vital for that triumph in the UEFA Cup.

[@diomuda7903]

If my memory served me right, UEFA's new law, which requires all UEFA members to adhere to human rights and some forms of democratic codes, have also been used by Erdogan to take further control on Turkish football. Painfully, many Turkish nationalists supported Erdogan due to the fact Erdogan pointed about "European discrimination of Turkey and Turks", noting that Turkish bids for UEFA Euro since 2008 all ended in failure. Given that Turkey is moving further away from Europe and increasingly aligned to the AFC (though still UEFA for monetary reasons), Erdogan is pushing the federation to study about moving to AFC, which is quite similar to the situation of Russia (albeit without a war yet). If Turkey were to join the AFC, which cares nothing about human rights, it could trigger the domino effect when Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, both are also Turkic states, might possibly secede from UEFA to join AFC. Especially Kazakhstan, of course. This is going to be an interesting time here - autocrats using football for their own greed.

[@chechenknightslaillaillall2047]

Interesting perspective. Do you think Turkey, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan will go to the AFC?

[@azizalfa752]

And thats a good thing Erdogan makes good decisions

[@gm4g515]

When he was wearing Inter jersey, i was huge fan of him. I have to say that he was also one of the greatest strikers ever of Inter Milan. It's so sad to see him like this after he became an unforgettable legend

[@emrebilgi]

I'm wondering why he couldn't have a long-lasting presence in Inter and Italy in general. He was dismissed after short time. We in Turkey always have thought this was because of his homesickness. But, what do you think? I also think it was also because Italian football bosses have little patience as they have lots of options. Yet, I think one should be patient for stability. Milan showed little patience to Terim, too.

[@2137NASCAR]

He was part of a islamic cult and supported them with his money. Its not sad at all.

[@rocksteph84]

Hakan Sükür shows us, what kind of country Turkey is...

[@JonathanRodriguez-nz9nw]

Despicable that a despot can ruin even the memory of a football legend

[@powasjington4262]

I think it’s complicated when people talk about “freedom of speech” what if this guy is legitimately an enemy of the state and a threat to the country? Then his free speech could be seen as hate speech and a legitimate threat. I just think it’s too easy for westerners to criticize other countries from a moral high ground most likely without ever even having been their let alone speaking the language or having an in depth knowledge of what’s happening there. Not saying what happening to this guy he deserved or is right, but the lack of open-mindednesses and differing opinions I see in the official narratives propagated by western countries (something else that brings into question free speech) it just makes me wonder…

[@zlucario6216]

I think you're right (and I'm guilty of this judgemental behavior as well). However there's definitely a problem in Turkish politics with differentiating between assumptions and facts. This football player was being blamed and erased for something we have no legal proof of. Yet the Erdogan regime succeeded to manipulate people after the coup into seeing everything in just black or white. The government was probably in pure shock and had no clue what to do except to blame and punish as many people as possible (without facts or actually legal processes). Many ordinary Turkish people bought into this and now blame people, countries or ideas for way more complex problems that in reality SOLELY the Turkish government can solve. There are many people saying that this video manipulates the upcoming elections or something along the lines. Talking about anything of the last ten years of Turkish politics is always gonna make Erdogan look like a fool. Because he acted like one.

[@brrrbrrr-nt6qk]

Yeah no, stop parroting "western" here and there to deflect. This is clearly a lack of freedom of speech, in an illberal democracy, lead by a authoritarian regime. No ifs, ands, or buts. No need to wonder...

[@dioritbajrami8283]

Honestly, i dont get it why turks have to mix up everything with politics. He still is one of the best Turkish Footballers of all time, he still should receive respect for what he has done. For what he did after he finished his career, has nothing to do with the time he played. Adriano is a drug dealer now, yet we cheerish his career and his 99 power shot.

[@OffTheGrid_]

Wait what Adriano is a drug dealer ???

[@gregorsamsa55]

@@OffTheGrid_ he's not, his friends probably are, but that's life in brazil if you were born and raised in a favela and didn't become a footballer

[@ozanerturk4101]

Here everything has connections with poltics unfortunately

[@Vau_]

Turkey has become an autocratic state under Erdogan. He uses these cancelling methods to stay in power.

[@WeaselSkeeter]

freedom of speech is allowed when its not against Erdogan, his friends or his agenda. i can imagine Özil or just his family could have suffered in one way or another if he declined Erdogans wishes. Erdogan is a dictator.

[@OmAcel-q2g]

Erase all you want, there is collective memories and international records etc. Fans who lucky enough to watch football in the 90's will remember one of the most prolific strikers ever played. I even rated him close enough to my childhood idol, Van Basten.

[@ofamily8180]

Bro everyone in Turkey HATES the gulenists/FETO. They're hated by every opposition party who accuse each other of having ties to FETO. It's like saying a sympathiser of 9/11 who knew the attackers should be allowed back into the US. Great footballer but he should stay out of politics. Just for the record I don't like Erdogan btw

[@dutchvanderlinde4969]

such ungrateful Turkey,, glad he's safe & okay in America now

[@hamzamushab]

Many people in the comments blaming Turkey saying "they need to keep football away from politics" yet şükür himself became a deputy of the party. He put himself in that situation not the government. Many of you have no idea about Turkey politics yet you think you have a say to criticize or comment on it without factual evidence

[@marco26gdm]

Imagine a country where you put yourself in a position to be erased from history, reminds me of Stalins erasure of people like Trotzki.

[@hamzamushab]

@@marco26gdm comparing Erdoğan to Stalin is the favorite pastime of people that don't know how the government is run in Turkey. If we want to compare "dictators". Let's mention Edward Snowden and Julian Assange about freedom of speech and whistleblowing.

[@spempo]

@@hamzamushab Yes, the USA is a state where free speech is not respected. But that doesn't mean Turkey is a place where free speech is respected. The two states can both be suppressors of free speech and encourage censorship at the same time. It's not just one or the other

[@1ewi5]

Please continue to speak up against Gulen and the CIA. Their cronies have all been cancelled. Enes Kanter included.

[@marco26gdm]

@@hamzamushab Still just comparing their methods, and your whataboutism on the US doesn’t improve things in Turkey the slightest.

[@okanozturk516]

This is why the book Animal Farm is still relateable. We Turkish people have seen almost all the examples given by the book in real in Turkey.

[@8083]

Thought this would be about Mason Greenwood

[@bravosierra2447]

He was one of my fave players at the 1998 WC & then was really chuffed when he came to the PL.

[@emrebilgi]

2002 WC.

[@12thMandalorian]

Interesting, why the re upload ?

[@sagnasswe2114]

Because they uploaded the wrong photo of Gulen.

[@wordsinahandle]

See pinned comment

[@yogottie7866]

He was vilified for standing by his friend...a tale as old as time

[@gustavomaxbrito]

hello tifo, the last video had something wrong?😅

[@FarukAhmet]

Fethullah Gülen's photo was wrong, they changed that as far as I can see.

[@leeroy8282]

The map at 3:47 is not accurate, apart from that, good video

[@Omar_Little]

reupload, why?

[@tahiriqbal5771]

Its outstanding and amazing to see this vlog. Great sharing boy..

[@skm5974]

Lol! Thought the video got cancelled too🤷‍♂️😅

[@sparshsingh4342]

likewise

[@mattthefatcat6913]

This is just sad and weird how can they erase someone like this

[@sluglow6357]

Hakan wasn’t a top tier striker because that era had wayyyy too many gods playing 9 but he was for sure known & respected by us fans in the late 90’s early 00’s, he had a cup of coffee with my inter but those galatasaray days & 02 World Cup still in my memory bank..he is one of those “yo you remember…?… ohhh yea I remember him he was good” type of players

[@sid28]

Every single frame of your videos look like a thumbnail. Your animation and design is fantastic mate

[@umutgokhanbacakszoglu8463]

Turkey and anatolia has always been under a big influence of religious sects. They have been so strong,that they have had financial power and political power. Sadly,this power hasnt always been for good of people. And feto is no exception of these sinister sects. İf you are a turkish citizen lived in 90s and early 2000s,you know Şükür. He was the perfect forward,both for club and turkish National team. But he and his similar friends have joined gulen movement. This movement wasnt cursed until 2013,but especially after clashing with prime minister,the movement has been declared as evil. Was the movement evil before 2013? Yes,it was. Anyway,Hakan,Arif and more talented players were illusioned by sects power and joined it. Gradually,these players lost their personallities to the sect. Basically,they sold their souls for money and power. Let me tell you as you can understand: gulen,the cleric,calls himself as the messiah(Mehdi), and if you dont believe that,you are totally infidel,also enemy. Şükür also thinks gulen as messiah,he isnt different. Thats why nobody misses hım and will never miss hım. He is sinister,like hisfriends. Fetöcüler dezenformasyon yapmadan gelip durumu açıklayayım dedim beyler. Sonra bu hamam böcekleri millete kendini acındırır, gerçekleri çarpıtır, ayık olalım.

[@leviathan8243]

Geç bir yorum olacak ama dayamışlar o evlatları sad story diye. El kaideyi falan destekleseydi nasıl olurdu acaba batıda, iki grupda aşırı İslamcı terör örgütü. Ama tabii terör sadece bize vuruyorsa onu sempatikleştirir şerefsizler bir sorun yok.

[@ensyilmaz2967]

best football player of his time in Turkey

[@agustinpereira3128]

Respectfully, this was a dictatorship with military power clamping down on history, hardly the same as someone getting criticized and “cancelled” for an old tweet, let’s not equate the two.

[@Foog123]

People use the word cancelled for click bait now

[@Ukraineaissance2014]

Its become an obnoxious, meaningless term which journalists know will attract knuckle draggers

[@iron6015]

Glad someone mentioned this, seems a bit misleading to say “cancelled”. Tifo haven’t been as high quality as they are capable of being these days.

[@marco26gdm]

Those people on Twitter would do the same if they had the means to.

[@ShinkiroZero]

crazy some countries have to cancel all Hakan Sukur did as a footballer. It is like Brazil cancellling Romario or Ukraine cancelling Shevchenko.

[@LuchP91]

Incredible how so many in the comments are slating Turkey and their governments and fail to realise their own governments are doing exactly the same..

[@brrrbrrr-nt6qk]

Whataboutism....

[@BarriesChannel]

Exceptional content of the highest quality.

[@8RIGHTS]

this guy was an icon at my primary school to all my turkish friends, i would not know about him and actually being excited to watch the 2002 world cup with him in it if it wasnt for them. then i just forgot about him, now just hearing and damn this story just sucks to hear.

[@jamesbissonette]

Interestingly, I don't know one Turkish footballer other than Hakan Sukur and Calhanoglu. Not so much canceled eh

[@jamesbissonette]

Cant miss Volkan Demirel, to be fair

[@MrRafting]

well he was cancelled in his own country - as the guy in the video explained, a commentator mentioned Hakan's name and got "mysteriously" replaced at half time

[@PaulTheTruthPierce34]

Arda Turam my man , come on now

[@jdogg448]

@@PaulTheTruthPierce34 Arda Turan come on now

[@svenzerx8490]

This is why big respected figures should stay away from politics and live a respected life by their fans

[@musabcantekin7404]

He deserves be in this position. Before 15 July coup people were warning erdogan and everyone around gülen about their organisation. They were even a mgk( national security board) in 2004 about feto organisation that warned erdogan and government. Before that feto organisation assasinated bunch of journalists such as Necip Hablemitoglu. So Hakan Sukur is as responsible as gülen and erdogan and ı am glad he is cancelled. He was a decent ballet tho ı give him that.