Club president who held referees hostage apologizes for behavior

Trabzonspor President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, who earlier this week took referees hostage for four hours after what was deemed an erroneous decision during a league match on Wednesday, has faced an enormous backlash across the country, with most of the criticism coming from women. While Hacıosmanoğlu was explaining his unprecedented behavior, he said in one part of his speech, "If we die, we will die like a man, rather than live like a woman." The club president's misogynistic words echoed across the country, causing outrage and anger among women who found the statement insulting. After the public outcry, Hacıosmanoğlu defended himself saying, "I didn't mean to hurt women." In a telephone interview aired on CNN Turk, he apologized for the statement and said, "If there is anybody who is offended because of my statement, I apologize a thousand times. The person who bore me is a woman as well as the mother of my children. I respect every woman. I made a comment figuratively speaking. I did not want to humiliate women. I apologize to all the women sincerely; however, I do not apologize for the people who use my words malevolently, even if they are deputies."

Moreover, Hacıosmanoğlu denied the allegation claiming President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called him to free the referees. The Turkish Football Federation has launched an investigation into the incident.