Former player rants against women’s lack of understanding of football

ISTANBUL

Ümit Özat (L) told presenter Simge Fıstıkoğlu (R) that 'women did not understand football' during a broadcast on Habertürk. HABERTÜRK video still

Former Fenerbahçe and FC Köln defender Ümit Özat went on a rant against women during a television show late yesterday night, claiming females have a lack of understanding of football while arguing with presenter Simge Fıstıkoğlu.

Özat began to argue with Fıstıkoğlu during the TV program “Bizim Stadyum,” which is broadcast on HaberTürk.

“I don’t take women supporters seriously,” Özat said, referring to fans’ criticism of Fenerbahçe coach Aykut Kocaman during the team’s game against Trabzonspor. Due to a penalty decision from the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) only women and children were allowed in the stadium for the Spor Toto Super League game.

“No one in their right mind can say a woman can understand football better than a man,” Özat said. “Football is a man’s game. Nowhere in the world outside of Turkey can women discuss football [in the media].”

When Fıstıkoğlu replied that Özat should not take himself so seriously, the former Turkish athlete dismissed the TV host’s remark. “I don’t even talk football with my wife, just as I do not talk about the subjects that she is capable of like cooking or knitting,” Özat said.

Last year, two British sports presenters Andy Gray and Richard Keys were forced to apologize and lost their jobs at Sky Sports for saying assistant referee Sian Massey is not capable of competently completing her job because “women don’t know the offside rule” while they were not aware they were on air.