Galatasaray's licensed product store, GSStore, removed a promotional video it shared on its social media account following the Amedspor match after receiving backlash. Allegations that the gold-colored image at the beginning of the video evoked the 'yellow bag' (sarı torba), which holds a place in the collective memory of the Kurdish community, sparked controversy.
The two teams faced each other last night at RAMS Park in the 11th week of the Süper Lig. Galatasaray won the match 4-3. A jersey promotional video was published on social media by GSStore for Barış Alper Yılmaz, who scored the final goal for the yellow-red team in the match.
The image in the first part of the video was criticized by some segments on the grounds that it evoked the 'yellow bag'.
GSSTORE REMOVED THE POST AFTER THE BACKLASH
As the controversy grew, GSStore removed the video in question from its social media account. In a statement made by the store, it was stated that the image belonged to the product's packaging design, and the following expressions were included:
“The visual in question is merely a part of the product's special packaging design and carries no other meaning or message beyond that.”
CALL FOR AN APOLOGY FROM AMEDSPOR PRESIDENT NAHİT EREN
Amedspor President Nahit Eren also reacted to Galatasaray with a statement on his social media account. Stating that deleting the post was not enough, Eren expressed that they were waiting for an explanation and an apology from the club.
Eren's statements are as follows;
“Deleting the post is not enough! We invite you to explain to the public for what purpose and under whose responsibility this post was made, to initiate the necessary proceedings against those responsible, and to apologize. This grave attitude cannot be covered up with the excuse of a ‘jersey promotion’.”
Deleting the post is not enough! We invite you to explain to the public for what purpose and under whose responsibility this post was made, to initiate the necessary proceedings against those responsible, and to apologize. This grave attitude cannot be covered up with the excuse of a “jersey promotion”.
— Nahit Eren (@av_nahiteren) November 7, 2026
JOINT STATEMENT FROM 15 BAR ASSOCIATIONS
15 bar associations, including those from Diyarbakır, Mardin, and Van, issued a joint statement regarding GSStore's post. The bar associations condemned the image and announced that they would take legal action regarding the matter.
In the statement, which pointed out that sports should be a space for mutual respect rather than hatred, the following expressions were included:
“The image of the ‘yellow bag’, which represents loss, pain, and grief in the collective memory of the Kurdish community, cannot be evaluated as a visual due to the historical and social meaning it carries. The use of this symbol within sports competition has the potential to result in the trivialization of past pains and social traumas.”
News Source: 12punto
