Hakan Sukur: From World Cup hero to political exile under Erdogan's regime
The scorer of the fastest goal in World Cup history has not been able to return to his homeland for several years. Hakan Sukur was accused of terrorism, and the ruling Recep Tayyip Erdogan would like to imprison him, as he did his father.
In the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, Turkey became the event sensation, finishing the tournament in third place. Their team was full of stars, and one of the biggest was Hakan Sukur. The tall striker made history in the bronze medal match by scoring a goal in the 11th second of the game, which remains a World Cup record.
In Turkey, he faces imprisonment or death
The 52-year-old, however, has not been allowed into his homeland, which he has given so much as a player, for several years. Sukur fell out with the ruling Recep Tayyip Erdogan so seriously that he faced imprisonment or the death penalty.
The famous footballer is accused of terrorism. All because of alleged connections with cleric Fethullah Gulen, who attempted to overthrow Erdogan in a coup in 2016. Sukur had to flee Turkey and has not been allowed back into the country since.
- I have nothing left anywhere in the world. Erdogan took everything from me. My right to freedom, the right to explain myself, to express myself, the right to work - he said in an interview.
Sukur was stripped of his Turkish citizenship. The state also seized his businesses and bank accounts. He managed to escape to the United States in time, where he lives to this day. In the USA, he had to start everything from scratch.
- Now I drive for Uber and I sell books - he revealed to the German "Welt am Sonntag".
The famous Turkish striker will not return to his homeland if Erdogan is in power. He has painfully learned firsthand what the president is capable of. Hakan managed to escape, so his father was imprisoned, where he later died behind bars.
