Football agent creates ‘social media sensation’

A TURKISH Cypriot football agent gained support from the sport’s international celebrities and top officials in the January 7 general election. Tekin Birinci, 35, who stood as a Social Democratic Party (TDP) candidate in Lefkoşa, was unsuccessful at the polls — but created a social media sensation after posts supporting him came from football “greats” such as former Arsenal and England captain Tony Adams MBE and former England and Arsenal player Sol Campbell.

“My candidacy in the TRNC parliamentary elections caused a wave of sensation on social media, where many celebrities and footballers posted videos and photos wishing me luck,” Mr Birinci, a registered Fifa agent, told Cyprus Today.

“I think this has been a great promotion for the whole of Cyprus and not just the North. You know how social media is: one person posts something then it spreads as more people see that you are trying to do something good for the world.

“I was totally surprised to have over 35 posts in support. I was not elected, but it certainly added a different colour and phenomenon to our election campaign,” he said.

Mr Birinci first stood for election as an MP in 2009 and this was his second candidacy.

“I hear that you’re running for election in northern Cyprus,” posted Tony Adams. “I wanna wish you the very best of luck. Politics is not my game, although I did captain England and Arsenal for a good long while and I suppose dealing with people and getting the best out of people is what I tried to do. I wish you the best of luck in your political career. I can’t think of a better person there is out there to be elected in northern Cyprus!”

Another supporter, former Barcelona FC chairman Joan Laporta, currently a member of the Catalan legislature, described Mr Birinci as “a serious man, really committed in everything he does”.

Sol Campbell, who threw his hat into the ring for the 2016 London Mayoral elections but was not selected by Britain’s Conservative Party, said in his message: “I know you’re going for elections in Northern Cyprus. We believe in you. Stay true. I know you can bring everyone together . . . You believe in the people and the people will believe in you . . . You’ve got what it takes. Do it!”

Good-luck messages also came from Georgian international Shota Arveladze, one of the most popular foreign players in Turkey, and former Leicester City and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey.