Statement from Minister Çiftçi regarding the child forced to remove his Fenerbahçe jersey

During the match played between Gençlerbirliği and Fenerbahçe in the first week of the Süper Lig, the forced removal of a Fenerbahçe jersey from a child who was watching the game in the stands with his father drew public backlash.

Following the incident, Minister of Interior Mustafa Çiftçi made a statement on his X account. Emphasizing that children should be able to be in the stands in safety, Çiftçi thanked the police officer who protected the child during the incident.

"WE WILL NEVER ALLOW HOOLIGANISM IN THE STANDS"

Minister Çiftçi's statement is as follows:

"The stands are not places where our children should be afraid, but where they should experience the enthusiasm of sports. I wholeheartedly thank our sensitive police officer who embraced and protected our little child, who was targeted due to his Fenerbahçe jersey during the Gençlerbirliği match, and who ended the tension with common sense. The Turkish Police are the sanctuary of the innocent, the conscience of our nation, and the guarantor of peace. We will never allow hooliganism in the stands, and we will always protect the peace of our children. I kiss our innocent little one on the eyes; I wish our self-sacrificing police officer and our entire security organization success in their duties."

THE POLICE ARE OUR COMPANIONS TO WHOM WE ENTRUST OUR LIVES AND OUR LOVED ONES????

The stands are not places where our children should be afraid, but where they should experience the enthusiasm of sports.

I wholeheartedly thank our sensitive police officer who embraced and protected our little child, who was targeted due to his Fenerbahçe jersey during the Gençlerbirliği match, and who ended the tension… pic.twitter.com/sk8HFn4ES2

— Mustafa ÇİFTÇİ (@mustafaciftcitr) August 16, 2026

DETENTION ORDER HAD BEEN ISSUED

On the other hand, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had announced that an investigation had been launched into the incident and that a detention order had been issued for the individual involved.

News Source: 12punto