Turkish PM Erdoğan’s rebuke convinces footballer to remove his tattoos

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

A Turkish footballer has promised to remove his tattoos, following a rebuke by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Erdoğan visited the facilities of the Turkish national football team in Istanbul’s Beykoz district on July 4. He was met there by Turkish Football Association Chairman Yıldırım Demirören and national team coach Fatih Terim, and briefly chatted with the young players who were waiting for him at the entrance.

After arriving, the prime minister rebuked 18-year-old Galatasaray player Berk Yıldız over his tattoos. “What are these tattoos? Why do you harm your body like that,” Erdoğan said. “Don’t be fooled by foreigners. God forbid, it could even give you skin cancer in the future.”

Suitably upbraided, Yıldız promised Erdoğan that he would have his tattoos removed.