Demirel’s attack on reporter condemned

ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News

Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Demirel (2R) attacks Vedat Danacı, (R) a journalist for the Habertürk daily, during the national football team’s training camp in Austria. Hürriyet photo

The Turkish Sports Writers’ Association (TSYD) has condemned goalkeeper Volkan Demirel for an assault on photographer Vedat Danacı.

“We have happily covered Volkan Demirel’s success stories before, but the fact that he is a very good goalkeeper does not give him the right to insult journalists,” the TSYD said in a statement released yesterday.

Demirel reportedly threatened the Habertürk reporter, forcing him to erase a photograph he took during the Turkish national football team players’ day off at the country’s training camp in Salzburg, Austria.

Photographs, followed by video, soon appeared on the web, depicting Demirel’s harassment of Danacı.
Responding to the incident, Demirel said that “he never disrespects anyone but those who disrespect him” via his Twitter account.

Turkey takes on Bulgaria in the third friendly game of its European tour tonight.