Football pundit shot after leaving studio in 'heinous attack'
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Turkish football pundit Serhat Akin was shot in the foot after leaving a television studio in Istanbul on Thursday evening.
Akin, who began his playing career at Fenerbahce and made 16 appearances for Turkey’s national side, was attacked in the Beykoz district of Istanbul after Fenerbahce’s 2-1 win over Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League.
Security footage from a camera outside the studio shows a masked person quickly approaching Akin before firing a weapon once. The masked person then fled the scene on the back of a motorcycle which had been waiting across the street.
The footage then shows a man rushing over to check on Akin, who had taken cover behind a car after he was approached.
Akin, who had been working as a pundit for the Fenerbahce game for Turkish digital broadcaster Sports Digitale, was taken to a private hospital for the gunshot wound to his right foot.
Police are now investigating the shooting while Akin, whose condition is not life threatening, is due to undergo an operation.
After the attack, the 43-year-old uploaded a photo on Instagram of his bloodied right foot with the message: ‘They shot my foot, our last word is Fenerbahce.’
Tuncay Sanli, the former Turkey international who played for both Middlesbrough and Stoke City in the Premier League, visited Akin in hospital following the attack on Thursday night.
‘He is currently very well, his morale is low. There is not much to say. He will undergo surgery tomorrow,’ Tuncay said.
‘I was with my brother because of the situation. He is my brother, we have experienced great things together. We have also experienced sadness.
‘I came to him as soon as I heard. There is nothing very serious about his condition. He will most likely undergo surgery tomorrow.
‘I am both sad and angry. Right now, his condition is very good. He is not in a good mood and his morale is low. I hope he regains his health as soon as possible.’
Akin was also visited in hospital by Turkish politician Mustafa Sarigul, who wrote on X: ‘I wish my brother Serhat Akın a speedy recovery. No thought can be silenced with a gun.’
A statement from Fenerbahce read: ‘We condemn the armed attack on our former football player Serhat Akin.
‘We wish him a speedy recovery and a speedy recovery. We expect the perpetrators to be held accountable before justice as soon as possible.’
Fenerbahce’s former president, Aziz Yildirim, said: ‘I learned with sorrow about the armed attack last night on our former football player Serhat Akın, who once wore the uniform of our football team and contributed to our championships. I strongly condemn this heinous attack.
‘My expectation from the relevant units of our state is that the perpetrators of this attack and those behind it are quickly identified, made public, and the necessary punishments are ensured.’
The Turkish Football Federation said in a statement: ‘We have learned with regret that former national team player Serhat Akin was injured in his foot as a result of an armed attack.
‘We strongly condemn the heinous attack and wish Serhat Akin a speedy recovery.’
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