Turkish giants Galatasaray have filed legal action against former referee and sports pundit Ahmet Çakar after he made sensational claims suggesting that Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is battling a “serious health problem.”
Çakar, made the allegation during a live broadcast on Beyaz TV’s Derin Futbol programme, remarks that have since sparked outrage across Turkey.
The controversial pundit claimed to have received information “from the Ministry of Health” regarding Osimhen’s alleged illness but said he preferred not to discuss details “as a sportsman and father.”
In a social media post late last month, Çakar wrote, “This is a very sad day for me. Unfortunately, I have received information that Osimhen has a very serious health problem. I hope this is not true.”
He further alleged that he had spoken to Galatasaray’s club doctor, Yener İnce, who allegedly mentioned that four to five black players in the Turkish Super League had a similar illness, but that Osimhen’s test was “negative.”
These comments quickly drew widespread criticism, with many accusing Çakar of spreading misinformation and racially charged speculation.