Hakan Çalhanoğlu's wife fiercely responds to criticism
Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Hakan Çalhanoğlu's wife, Sinem Çalhanoğlu, has responded sharply to criticism directed at her husband following Turkey's early exit from the 2026 World Cup.
- She highlighted that the same team and captain led Turkey to qualification, implying criticism is unfair.
- Sinem argued that public perception has shifted, and people are quick to blame the captain when the team loses, despite celebrating him when they win.
Following Turkey's premature departure from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu has become a focal point for criticism. However, his wife, Sinem Çalhanoğlu, has fiercely defended him against the online backlash.
How quickly you forget... Our captain was the same when we came to the World Cup, and he is the same today as we are eliminated.
Sinem Çalhanoğlu took to social media to address the criticism, sharing a post that emphasized the consistency of the team and its captain. She pointed out that the same players and the same captain were responsible for Turkey's qualification for the tournament. Her message implied that the current criticism is unwarranted, given the team's previous success under the same leadership.
The team you are targeting today, and the captain you are targeting, are the same people who brought you to the World Cup.
"How quickly you forget... Our captain was the same when we came to the World Cup, and he is the same today as we are eliminated," Sinem wrote in her social media post. She stressed that the captain being targeted today is the same one celebrated yesterday. "The team you are targeting today, and the captain you are targeting, are the same people who brought you to the World Cup," she added.
What has changed is only your perspective.
She further argued that the team's character and the captain's effort have not changed. Instead, she suggested that the public's perspective has shifted. "What has changed is only your perspective," she stated. "To criticize today what you applauded yesterday shows that you love the result, not football. This team and its captain fought until the last whistle, but this is football; sometimes it doesn't happen. It's easy to claim ownership when you win and look for a culprit when you lose."
To criticize today what you applauded yesterday shows that you love the result, not football. This team and its captain fought until the last whistle, but this is football; sometimes it doesn't happen. It's easy to claim ownership when you win and look for a culprit when you lose.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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