Hakan Sukur Drives Uber After Turkey Leader Erdogan 'Took Everything' from Him
Jan 14, 2020
FILE - In this Saturday, June 29, 2002, file photo, Turkey's Hakan Sukur holds a South Korean flag at the end of the 2002 World Cup third place playoff soccer match between South Korea and Turkey, at the Daegu World Cup stadium, in Daegu, South Korea. Turkey's state-run news agency reports Friday, Aug. 12, 2016, authorities have issued an arrest warrant for former soccer star and legislator Hakan Sukur over his alleged links to a U.S.-based Muslim cleric, accused by Turkey of masterminding last month's failed coup. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, FILE)
Turkey and Galatasaray legend Hakan Sukur has revealed he is now an Uber driver in the United States and sells books for a living after being exiled from his home country by president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Sukur retired from football in 2008 and joined Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2011. He served as an MP in Istanbul for four years, but in 2013 he left the AKP to serve as an independent.
"Then the hostility started. Stones were thrown at my wife's boutique, my children were harassed on the street.
"I received threats after every statement I made. When I had left, they locked up my father—and everything I owned was confiscated.
"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."
Turkish authorities issued a warrant for Sukur's arrest in August 2016, a month after the government fended off a failed coup attempt.
Sukur had previously expressed support for cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom the Turkish government accused of leading the coup.
The 48-year-old had moved to the U.S., where he ran a cafe in California, shortly before the coup attempt, which he condemned on Twitter after the arrest warrant was issued.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY: Hakan Sukur of Turkey during the match against England in the group 7 European 2004 qualifying game at Sukru Saracoglu stadium in Istanbul 11 October 2003. The game ended 0-0 qualifying England for next year''s Euro 2004 tournament leav
Sukur explained to Welt am Sonntag he decided to leave the AKP was because "Erdogan's politics led to bad times," but he denied any wrongdoing: "I only did things that are legal."
"Can they show me a crime that I have committed?" he added. "No. They just say 'traitor' and 'terrorist.'"
His father, Sermet Sukur, was also issued an arrest warrant in 2016. He was taken into custody in Hakan's hometown of Adapazari and imprisoned.
According to Goal, both of his parents have been diagnosed with cancer. Following the diagnosis, his father, who served as Hakan's agent during his playing career, was released and placed under house arrest.
Sukur said it is a "very difficult time for them" and that everybody he associated with in Turkey now has "financial difficulties."
Sukur also said a Turkish student was jailed for 14 months after taking a selfie with him during a visit to the United States.
Sukur is Turkey's all-time top scorer, having bagged 51 goals in 112 matches. He has more than double the goals of their next-highest scorer, Burak Yilmaz, who has 24.
He was also part of the Turkey side that finished third at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where he scored once.
Galatasaray Istanbul`s scorer Hakan Sukur celebrates his goal which is Galatasaray`s second goal during the Europe Championship preliminary soccer game against CSKA Sofia in Olympic stadium, 13 August 2003, Istanbul. AFP PHOTO/ Mustafa Ozer (Photo credi
The striker spent the bulk of his career with Galatasaray, scoring 284 goals in 518 appearances, according to Transfermarkt. His efforts helped the club win eight Super Lig titles, five Turkish Cups and the UEFA Cup.
Sukur was banned from Galatasaray in 2017, a decision he says came from Erdogan rather than the club.
In his native Turkey, he also played for Bursaspor and Sakaryaspor, with whom he won another Turkish Cup.
