Turkey have issued an arrest warrant for ex-footballer Hakan Sukur in connection with last month’s failed coup, it has been reported.
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Sukur, who played for clubs including Galatasaray, Inter Milan and Blackburn Rovers, is accused of involvement in the failed 15 July coup that tried to unseat President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The extradition moves expand a domestic purge that authorities say targets a “parallel state” set up by followers of US -based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey accuses of orchestrating the coup plot.
Although there are also suggestions that Sukur’s father has been detained, there is no evidence as yet to support those allegations, with both men having left country past year. In 2011 he was elected MP for Turkish president Recip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development party (AKP), but resigned in 2013 following a corruption probe that targeted Erdoğan and his inner circle. His father’s home in Sakarya was also inspected.
Sukur now lives in the United States and is believed to currently be in America, yet to be apprehended, although Michael sourced Turkish media, which said an “Interpol Red Notice would be requested for extradition”.
Sukur is Turkey’s leading goalscorer with 51 goals from 112 appearances and is best known internationall for his performances at the 2002 World Cup in Japan/Korea where Turkey finished third.
Sukur had voiced objections to the government move to shut down schools run by Gulen’s movement Hizmet, which means service in Turkish. He had gone on trial in absentia in June on charges of insulting Erdogan on social media.
He is not the only Turkish sports star caught up in the controversy after the coup bid. Last week, an arrest warrant was issued in Turkey for Gulen.
According to Turkish officials over 35,000 people have been detained since the coup attempt that left 240 dead excluding the plotters.
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Since then, Turkey has sent several documents to the United States which Ankara claims proves that Gulen was involved.
