Turkey detains ex-footballer

Coup links

ISTANBUL, Aug 22, (AFP): Turkish authorities have Tuesday detained former international football goalkeeper Omer Catkic on suspicion of links to the group blamed for last year’s failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Dogan news agency said Tuesday.

Catkic was taken into police custody as part of the investigation into the group led by the USbased Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, it said.

He is accused of downloading and sending messages through the Bylock messaging app which authorities suspect was used by Gulen’s supporters to coordinate the July 15, 2016, coup, Dogan said. Gulen denies involvement in the plot. Catkic was taken to Istanbul police headquarters for questioning. According to the Sabah newspaper, his home was also searched.

The goalkeeper was picked 19 times for Turkey’s national team, and played for clubs including Bursaspor and Antalyaspor before retiring in 2012. He has since been working as a commentator for television. Over 50,000 people are being held under arrest in the wake of the coup, a crackdown that has caused international controversy.

The crackdown has also touched football, with the authorities issuing an arrest warrant for former star Hakan Sukur, who played a key role in Turkey’s glorious run to third place in the 2002 World Cup. Catkic was also in that squad.

Sukur, also a former stalwart for Galatasaray, is now based in the United States.

Authorities last year also arrested former football star Ismail Demiriz, who played for Galatasaray from 1984 to 1993 as well as 27 times for the Turkish national side. He was released in February.

Catkic