Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: FIFA World Cup, Football
Josh Lawless
A World Cup commentator was sacked at half-time by a television station after mentioning a 'forbidden name' during a broadcast.
During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Turkish commentator Alper Bakircigil was on duty for Morocco's 2-1 win over Canada in the group stages.
The victory ensured that Morocco topped what was a tricky Group F, which also included Belgium and Croatia.
Goals from Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri were enough for the north African outfit, who went on to reach the semi-finals before losing to eventual runners-up France.
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During the match, Bakircigil - who was working for Turkish broadcaster TRT - mentioned the fastest goal in World Cup history, which was scored by Hakan Sukur inside just 11 seconds during Turkey's clash against South Korea in 2002.
Sukur scored 51 goals in 112 games for Turkey, and remains their record goalscorer.
But his name being mentioned was deemed controversial, and appeared to result Bakircigil's dismissal.
Taking to Twitter, the commentator wrote: "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.."
Sukur played for Galatasaray, Blackburn Rovers and Inter Milan during a long and illustrious career, before entering politics upon his retirement.
He was later linked to terrorism, and he has and family then fled to the United States shortly before he was accused of playing a role in a failed coup attempt against the Turkish government in 2016 - which he denies.
A year later, a decree was put out to revoke all of his career honours.
Since moving to the States, Sukur owned a cafe and then began working as an Uber taxi driver. He and his family received green cards, and he set up a football school in California for boys aged between 10 and 17.
Sukur, who scored over 300 goals during his professional career for club and country, addressed allegations made against him.
He told German news outlet Welt Am Sonntag: "I have nothing left. Erdogan [President of Turkey] 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."
As per The Athletic, Sukur's removal from Turkish football history even extends to the club's museum.
A film dedicated to the team's victory in the UEFA Cup final - in which they beat Arsenal on penalties - is on display. But Sukur's penalty, which he scored, is edited out of footage.