On Saturday(Feb 25), thousands of football fans demanded the government to resign amidst lackluster response to the recent earthquakes in Turkey, which has claimed over 44,000 lives. The same happened the following evening on Sunday(Feb 26), where fans chanted “government, resign!” In response, Turkey’s nationalist party MHP’s chair and ruling coalition partner Devlet Bahçeli responded by demanding future matches be held with no spectators.
The ruling coalition in Turkey has been coming under heavy fire due to the much delayed response to the devastating earthquake that rocked the nation earlier this month. The government is frequently criticized for a much delayed response, lack of coordination of search and rescue efforts, delayed, inconsistent or insufficient aid to survivors as well as laxed building codes that many argue has cost countless lives.
In light of the most devastating earthquake to hit Turkey in modern history, Turkey’s most popular sport was also put on hold, matches only resuming this Saturday. As Fenerbahçe, one the biggest clubs in Turkey, was preparing to face off with Konyaspor, fans on the bleachers began chanting “Government, resign!”
The impromptu protests repeated the following evening during the Antalyaspor – Beşiktaş game, Beşiktaş being another one of the largest football clubs and the personal favorite of Bahçeli as he was an avid supporter and a club member up until this week. Bahçeli announced that he was withdrawing his support for the team shortly after the fans expressed their discontent with the government.
Fenerbahçe tribünlerinin ardından Beşiktaş tribünlerinden de ''Hükümet istifa'' sloganları yükseldipic.twitter.com/lrAIgIKUCB
— Medyascope Spor (@MedyascopeSpor) February 26, 2023
The police were quick to react to suppress the chants. At 4:17PM, the fans began throwing stuffed animals onto the field, the time referencing when the earthquake hit on February 6th and stuffed animals emblematic of countless children’s toys found in debris after.
Beşiktaş'ın yıldız futbolcusu Cenk Tosun, gözyaşlarına hakim olamadı…pic.twitter.com/sbuTo9P3C0
— Medyascope Spor (@MedyascopeSpor) February 26, 2023
Soon after, Beşiktaş FC released the video below captioned “May children always smile”, subtly endorsing the protests
Çocuklar hep gülsün…pic.twitter.com/b67fwp7CGJ
— Medyascope Spor (@MedyascopeSpor) February 26, 2023
MHP Chair Bahçeli was quick to respond to the protest, Tweeting: “It is irresponsible and thoughtless to chant for the resignation of the government while our country is struggling with the biggest earthquake disaster of the last century.”
Medyascope'un günlük e-bülteni
Andaç'a abone olun
Editörlerimizin derlediği öngörüler, analizler, Türkiye’yi ve dünyayı şekillendiren haberler, Medyascope’un e-bülteni Andaç‘la her gün mail kutunuzda.
Türkiye’miz son yüzyılın en büyük deprem felaketiyle mücadele halindeyken Fenerbahçe-Konyaspor futbol müsabakası esnasında trübünden istifa sloganlarının atılması sorumsuzluk ve şuursuzluktur.
— Devlet Bahçeli (@dbdevletbahceli) February 26, 2023
In a subsequent Tweet Bahçeli added: “The Nationalist Movement Party strongly condemns the disrespect shown to our citizens who lost their lives in the earthquake, and the use of sports as a tool for dirty politics during such a sensitive and painful time.”
Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi depremde hayatını kaybetmiş vatandaşlarımıza yapılan saygısızlığı, ülkemizin böylesi hassas ve acılı günlerinde sporun kirli siyasete alet edilmesini şiddetle kınamaktadır.
— Devlet Bahçeli (@dbdevletbahceli) February 26, 2023
Bahçeli continued: “It is the unavoidable duty of all club presidents to take urgent and necessary steps and hold matches either without spectators or by taking other necessary precautions. The Nationalist Movement Party is closely following this matter.”
Bütün kulüp başkanlarının müsabakaların ya seyircisiz ya da gerekli tedbirlerin alınarak oynanması hususunda acil ve gerekli adımları atmaları kaçınılmaz görevleridir. Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi konunun takipçisidir.
— Devlet Bahçeli (@dbdevletbahceli) February 26, 2023
Bahçeli renounces his club membership
In response to Beşiktaş fans’ critique of the government, Bahçeli renounced his membership to the club. In a press release MHP party deputy chair stated that MHP regarded the matter as disrespectful to victims of the earthquake and was against the values held by Beşiktaş FC and Beşiktaş fans.
In response to Bahçeli, opposition party HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan Tweeted “I support Beşiktaş…”
Ben Beşiktaşlıyım…
— Pervin BULDAN (@PervinBuldan) February 26, 2023
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy PM and current opposition coalition partner DEVA party chair Ali Babacan Tweeted:
“Since the ruling coalition’s junior partner MHP is a hammer, it thinks everything is a nail. All they know is to ban and to forbid.
@dbstatebahceli @RTErdogan learn to tolerate criticism and do your jobs.
Forget about football and look to the earthquake zone. Solve the heating and housing problems.”
İktidarın küçük ortağı elinde çekiç olduğu için her gördüğünü çivi sanıyor. Bildiği tek şey yasaklamak, engellemek.@dbdevletbahceli @RTErdogan Eleştirilere tahammül etmeyi öğrenip işinizi yapın.
— Ali Babacan (@alibabacan) February 26, 2023
Futbolu rahat bırakın, deprem bölgesine bakın: Barınma ve ısınma sorununu çözün.
