The man Nihat Kahveci wanted to strangle!

I have been a journalist for 35 years and have received many threats, but for the first time in my life, I was threatened with being strangled on live television...

And by a former footballer turned commentator, no less. I am the man Nihat Kahveci called the person he wanted to strangle, the man who has been viral on social media for two days. But I wish he had searched my name on Google before spewing insults and curses on screen; he could have at least gotten my name right. He says he doesn't know me, which is perfectly normal—he doesn't have to—but you should have at least checked the name of the man you wanted to strangle, my brother. 

Since Nihat Kahveci is not a journalist, he might have overlooked these ethical rules, but I wish my colleague Nebil Evren, an experienced journalist of nearly 30 years sitting next to him, had taken a look! 

Anyway, let me tell you the story from start to finish...

On our YouTube channel, Gonzo Sports, following a viewer's comment, I said: “I cannot accept Nihat Kahveci saying 'debe debe' after the Beşiktaş match. In my eyes, his former loyalty to Beşiktaş... I respect him for wearing the jersey, but I do not accept him putting on a show on screen and then saying my Beşiktaş identity cannot be questioned.” I also do not accept him showering me with insults on screen following my remarks. 

‘WHAT DOES DEBE DEBE MEAN?

First and foremost, I am a journalist and a sports fan with the right to criticize, just like any other citizen. If you cannot handle criticism, you should not appear on screen. 

Above all, there was neither an insult, nor a threat, nor an attempt to target anyone in my words. However, my brother Nihat (I call him brother because he used an expression like 'if he is younger than me, he is my brother, if older, he is my elder' on his show; I am five years his senior), who was acting wildly in the studio while responding to me, openly insulted and targeted me. The term 'debe debe' I used has no equivalent as an insult in the Turkish Penal Code or in Turkish customs and traditions; in fact, it has no meaning at all. I said it spontaneously to mean talking in a repetitive way. 

You also said to your former teammate Sergen Yalçın, “You are nothing as a coach, you are nothing as a commentator” Did Sergen Yalçın try to strangle you? It seems these words are not enough to warrant attacking people, Nihat Kahveci. Or is it permissible when you say it? 

But let's come to the words of Nihat Kahveci, who says, 'I wore the Beşiktaş jersey, I wore the National Team jersey'... 

- He refers to me as 'a dingil' (a derogatory term for a fool); he probably meant 'dingil' but couldn't find the word due to anger or some other reason! 

- 'His surname is Bilgin, Silgin (mocking his surname), you watch him.' Here he is making fun of my surname.

- He said, 'Look, I am the National Team Captain, riff-raff (çapulcular) cannot talk, everyone will know their place.' Here I agree with him completely; everyone will know their place, including you, brother Nihat. 

- 'Who are you, man? Are you Tan? Are you Taner?'

- 'I will send him a clown chair...'  (I don't know if 'clown' was used as an insult here. If so, I am disappointed. But if it is a compliment to the clowning profession that tries to make people laugh, then thank you, but I don't think there is any need for him to go to the expense of sending it to me; we smile when we watch him from time to time, he can use it himself.) 

‘MAN, YOU HAVE...’

He continues...

- 'Nebil, I will strangle the man. I will...' 

Stop right there!

What happens when you strangle someone? What happens when a man is strangled? So, what does 'I will strangle you' mean? Are we to understand this as a death threat on live television? 

Do these threats befit an athlete who has worn the Beşiktaş and National Team jerseys? 

It did not befit you, Nihat Kahveci! 

But don't worry, my dear brother, I have no intention of filing a lawsuit or anything like that. (With my rights reserved, of course.) 

Since you called me a troll, insolent, a clown, a fool, and riff-raff on live television, let me answer you with a more refined tone.

First of all, I am none of the things you said; I am not chasing clout or trying to become famous as you suggested. I am just doing my job. 

And I have been a Beşiktaş fan since the day I was born. 

My criticism is about why I don't like the commentary of former Beşiktaş players who are Beşiktaş fans but do not protect the rights of Beşiktaş in the broken football system... 

Many Beşiktaş fans might think the same thing. But you attacked me because you claimed I am an enemy of Beşiktaş... 

WE CANNOT TAKE BEŞİKTAŞ TO COURT

While you do your professional jobs and earn money from Beşiktaş, I am a Beşiktaş lover who, like all other fans, buys my ticket and goes to watch Beşiktaş matches regardless of rain or mud. 

I am so passionate about these colors that I named my child Kartal (Eagle)... 

You cannot question my Beşiktaş identity, or that of millions of other Beşiktaş fans, just because you played for this club! 

Moreover, when you don't become champions, we cannot take you to court saying 'We wanted a championship, you didn't deliver, we want our rights.' But you can take the club to court. In other words, for us, being a Beşiktaş fan is a passion, while for you, it can be a job. 'My relationship with Beşiktaş is not based on a contract, a fee, or an account of receivables. Of course, it is legitimate for professional footballers to demand the wages they deserve. Indeed, you also resorted to legal enforcement for your receivables at Beşiktaş in 2012. What I want to explain is this: For us fans, Beşiktaş is a love that has no financial equivalent. For this reason, I do not accept our Beşiktaş identity being questioned by anyone.'

A ONE-CENT LAWSUIT

Now, with this stance on being a Beşiktaş fan, of course I will not take a former footballer who has worn the Beşiktaş jersey and carried the crescent-star emblem on his chest to court just because he insulted me. But the reason is my love for that glorious jersey. I don't want to be associated with such a thing. Otherwise, filing a symbolic 1-cent lawsuit is very easy! 

My dear brother Nihat, I criticized, you insulted. 

You called me a troll; I was in Scotland for an away game to follow our Beşiktaş match, as you know. When you messaged me, I told you that you spoke based on a small excerpt and I wish you had watched the whole thing. 

Unlike your behavior on screen, I have no problem with the tone of our correspondence. But because of your attitude on screen, for two days, my family and my late mother have been dragged through the mud! And the threats you made are just the icing on the cake. 

Now I ask you, you say you are a father of 4 children... I am also a father. Suppose I was subjected to an attack by some reckless person after you targeted me; would you be able to answer to my child?  Did it befit that captaincy you boast about?

You also asked what good I have done for the country; I have been doing one of the most difficult jobs in this country for 35 years. To deliver news to the public... I may not have paid as much tax as you, but I have paid the tax on my sweat and tears down to the last penny. 

Whether you like it or not, I will continue to do my job. You can quit football and become a commentator or a journalist, and you can even target people and insult them, but we cannot quit journalism and become footballers. 

Moreover, we unfortunately do not know how to use such a sordid language to respond to your words in the same way you do. 

How will it be now, Nihat Kahveci? Will you go on screen and add new threats and insults to these words, or will you regret it and apologize? Although, if you continue with the same attitude, I promise I will file that 1-cent lawsuit...