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Gay referee gets red card in Turkey

After coming out on TV, Halil Dincdag sues football federation over sacking

By Nicholas Birch in Istanbul

To football fans in Turkey who shout 'faggot' to insult referees, Halil Dincdag says, 'Well, here I am'

AFP/GETTY IMAGES

To football fans in Turkey who shout 'faggot' to insult referees, Halil Dincdag says, 'Well, here I am'

Turkey's football authorities were at the centre of a growing scandal this week after a referee they had sacked for homosexuality and outed to the press began fighting back in the courts and the press.

"They thought I was an ant that they could crush, they thought I would run away and hide in a corner," Halil Ibrahim Dincdag said. "But they have destroyed my life and I will fight them to the end."

Mr Dincdag, 33, from Trabzon, had been refereeing in the local league for 13 years when he was informed this May that his licence would not be renewed. Two days after he appealed his dismissal to the football federation, stories about him began appearing in the national press. As a result he was sacked by the local radio station he worked on and forced to flee to Istanbul to spare his family from an influx of journalists. It was at this point that he decided to come out as gay, while appearing on a popular television sports programme.

"The day the press started writing about me, I went into a coma, and the day I appeared on TV I died," he said in his lawyer's office. "Thirty-three years of my life had disappeared. Since then, I have been trying to resurrect myself."

Mr Dincdag's television appearance was an act of considerable courage. Homosexuality is not illegal in Turkey, unlike in some other Muslim countries. But homophobia is widespread, no-where more so than in the world of football. "The crowds shout 'faggot' at referees whose decisions they don't like," Mr Dincdag said. "Well, here I am."

His principled stance brought him a wave of support. Three-quarters of Trabzon's 80 referees rang him up to congratulate him. Thirty thousand people signed a petition launched by Turkey's most influential newspaper backing his campaign. One columnist even compared him to Harvey Milk, America's first openly gay politician. Turkey's deputies brought his case to parliament. Most importantly for Mr Dincdag, his pious family, from whom he had kept his homosexuality secret, stood behind him.

Caught off balance by the outcry, Turkey's football federation began back-pedalling fast. Its vice-president Lutfi Aribogan said Mr Dincdag's sacking had nothing to do with his sexuality and everything to do with his lack of "talent". The head of the referee's board then said the door remained open for Mr Dincdag to return to the fold, insisting that it was Mr Dincdag's lawyer, not the federation, that had leaked his name to the press.

"Do they have no fear of God," Mr Dincdag asked, pointing to a sheaf of match reports dating back a decade that show him to have ranked among the best local referees. "I've already gone to the courts over this, and I'll go all the way to Europe if necessary."

Empowered by Turkey's European Union accession bid, the Turkish gay and lesbian rights lobby has become increasingly outspoken over the past decade. Activists say Mr Dincdag's fight for his rights has the potential to become a landmark case. "For years, the European Union has been talking about the importance of legislation on sexual discrimination in the workplace," said Ali Erol, a spokesman for KAOS-GL, an Ankara-based gay and lesbian rights group. "So far Turkey has not taken one step forward."

Old-fashioned views of homosexuality remain widespread. Speaking on television shortly after Mr Dincdag came out, Turkey's most popular football commentator Erman Toroglu, himself a former referee, said he didn't think the 33-year old should be given his job back. "I reckon [homosexual referees] would have a tendency to give more penalties to good-looking, tough footballers," he said.

Mr Dincdag's eyes glaze over with anger at the recollection. "Does Toroglu assault every pretty girl he passes in the street?"

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Comments

Taste
[info]charleslambert wrote:
Thursday, 25 June 2009 at 07:54 am (UTC)
"Turkey's most popular football commentator Erman Toroglu, himself a former referee, said he didn't think the 33-year old should be given his job back. "I reckon [homosexual referees] would have a tendency to give more penalties to good-looking, tough footballers," he said."

'Tough'? Isn't it odd how quickly non-homosexuals feel they can establish what constitutes homosexual taste? Toroglu might prefer a bit of rough, but that doesn't give him the right to assume Dincdag shares his preference. he might go for the smoother type. Maybe Toroglu should switch to reporting on Turkish oil wrestling...
Re: Taste
[info]brazil2009 wrote:
Thursday, 25 June 2009 at 12:09 pm (UTC)
Turkey's football authorities quite frankly are so not allright. Gay referee!! I find these people who think that football is all about macho culture and hooliganism out of their minds.Everybody ( most, I'd like to think so), loves football.Good on this referee.I think he is a brave man for seeking justice.Let's hope he does not get hurt or worst killed for being who he is. There's an all time favorite video on youtube under the title (searchable): is this the gayest referee ever? He is a Brazilian referee nicknamed Daisy.He was extremelly professional, so much so, he is considered one of the best Brazil ever had.But he could not help it, he was so funny.And people did love him to bits. The video itself and his ballet on the field was beyond belief.So hilarious and diplomatic ,at times of tension, that was him. Never had a problem. Sometimes he would bear Diva like qualities when arguing with the football couches.He was a real character. Thank God. Bless them all.
Re: Taste
[info]brazil2009 wrote:
Thursday, 25 June 2009 at 12:54 pm (UTC)
Not meant to be funny it was a typo... football coaches.
A person's sexual orientation
[info]arthur_ide wrote:
Thursday, 25 June 2009 at 12:47 pm (UTC)
has an effect on performance only if others preceive it and taunt the person whom they consider to not reflect their views. Homosexuality, like heterosexuality, is normal and natural throughout all species, as seen in the recent revelation in Germany of two gay penguins adopts and carrying for a baby, horses and moose who same-sex mate, etc. The fact that Halil Ibrahim Dincdag was forced to "come out" is a crime not commited by Mr. Dincdag but by the Turkish football association and their bigots who have not come to terms with reality. While religions (especially Christianity and Islam) have an abhorance of homosexuality and misread their own scriptures (for example, Genesis 19 states that Lot first offered his daughters to the people of Sodom and later had incest with them in the caves outside of Zoar--but conveniently ignore Ezekial 16:49 that states the "sin" of Sodom was pride and lack of charity) these myths must be put away and reality accepted. People must be judged on their personal contributions--not on external criteria that is totally irrelevant.
[info]mtvmalta wrote:
Thursday, 25 June 2009 at 03:35 pm (UTC)
And this is the country that the USA wants to foist on the European Union!
Re: mtvmalta
[info]trans_national wrote:
Thursday, 25 June 2009 at 08:47 pm (UTC)
Emm.. you mean like Poland, where the mayor of Warsaw banned the Gay Pride march?
I attended the Istanbul Lesbian Gay Transgender Pride march last year - it was great.
Turkey is a complex country, with many differing communities with different values - which seems to be something that both Nationalists in Turkey and the Orientalist / anti-Islam brigade in Europe both seem to have trouble getting their heads around
Dink, Dag nab it
[info]scot_in_canada wrote:
Thursday, 25 June 2009 at 08:28 pm (UTC)
What on earth does sexual orientation have to do with the ability to referee a soccer match? What a ridiculous story. I look forward to the day when homosexuality isn't a "story" in a newspaper. This will also be the day that churches are no longer needed.
headwear
[info]downtoearthguy wrote:
Friday, 26 June 2009 at 09:22 am (UTC)
Whats that big poof got on his head? Looks like a miniature frying pan. Lets offer him asylum here in the UK, poor fellow.
Re: headwear
[info]brazil2009 wrote:
Friday, 26 June 2009 at 10:16 pm (UTC)
why poor fellow? what sort of headwear are you wearing not so downtoearthguy? Is it some sort of nest with lots of bird poop in it? And what makes you think that asylum in the UK is the best thing for someone like him. Why don't you travel abroad and check out other wonderful places or do you think that you are the most fortunate man on earth.Believe me, you ain't. My advice to you is scoop on poop. That's more like you,Poor fellow
Gay referee gets red card in Turkey
[info]famulla wrote:
Friday, 26 June 2009 at 04:57 pm (UTC)
Mr Dincdag's sacking had nothing to do with his sexuality and everything to do with his lack of "talent". WE know that this a MUSLIM state. He ougnt to receive puple ribbon marked "SIR." TBE Turks Bad Republic . I read this in a joke book in 1945 (for example, Genesis 19 states that Lot first offered his daughters to the people of Sodom and later had incest with them in the caves outside of Zoar--but conveniently ignore Ezekial 16:49 that states the "sin" of Sodom was pride and lack of charity) You must be joking How can you read in the footbal pitch have sex with gay and read and have sex and read and have seeeee xxx all 76,000 are watching you with five refrees. TV in doubt the fingure sign SQUARE
I thank you
Firozali A Mulla
Re: Gay referee gets red card in Turkey
[info]danzalez7 wrote:
Friday, 26 June 2009 at 10:48 pm (UTC)
Firozali A Mulla try stringing an intelligible sentence together then you could perhaps advocate your argument? However, I fail to understand anything of what you said. I also look forward to the day that homosexuality is not an issue. I think everyone has a misconception that homosexual males are attracted to anything with a pulse? It's a quite ridiculous notion and why can this man not be as impartial as say a Christian or Atheist referee? Ridiculous.
Re: Gay referee gets red card in Turkey
[info]famulla wrote:
Saturday, 27 June 2009 at 02:53 am (UTC)
Read it this manner if you please. You need to have fun in life with logic. Turkey is a Muslim country. Why there are Gays. All Muslims countries try to get rid of these kinds of people. We believe in a woman and man relationship, you know, husband and wife for production of more red and green earthling. How cab you produce these with test-tube babies. There is no guarantee. Allah says multiply by him and her. Not he and he or she and she.
I thank you
Firozali A Mulla
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
If you wish to be loved, show more of your faults than your virtues. -Edward Bulwer-Lytton, author (1803-1873)
Re: Gay referee gets red card in Turkey
[info]rexxxxxxxx wrote:
Saturday, 27 June 2009 at 05:43 pm (UTC)
is it true that you can nail jelly to the ceiling famulla
I have been told you were seen doing it
Re: Gay referee gets red card in Turkey
[info]famulla wrote:
Saturday, 27 June 2009 at 06:00 pm (UTC)
NO NOT JELLY IT WAS BELLY ON THE GROUND, SHE DIED, THE FUNERAL IS ON THE EVE OF JULY 32nd 2008 Please do come rexxxxxxxx (rexxxxxxxx) IS THAT YOUR NAME OR ADDRESS OR HIDING, EH, NASTY GUYS, I LOVE YOU BABY ...."We are surprised at Mr. Obama," Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in remarks to judiciary officials broadcast on state television. "Didn't he say that he was after change? Why did he interfere?"
I thank you
Firozali A Mulla
Re: Gay referee gets red card in Turkey
[info]rexxxxxxxx wrote:
Saturday, 27 June 2009 at 06:54 pm (UTC)
If it was Delhi belly you killed then I thank you

I am attending a cdif annonymous meeting on 33rd july so can't make bellies funeral

please convey my respects
Re: Gay referee gets red card in Turkey
[info]famulla wrote:
Sunday, 28 June 2009 at 01:25 am (UTC)
Hey you are a pal This is burning news take it from me with compliments complements
It was the last day of shooting for a Pepsi commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in 1984, and the only hiccup had been an argument between Michael Jackson and an ad executive over whether the young superstar would take off his sunglasses.
"Then," as the executive later wrote, "we set his hair on fire."
Jackson was descending a staircase in an extravagant, pyrotechnic opening sequence, dancing to "Billie Jean," when a spark landed on his head. Jackson cried out. People nearby leapt on him to put out the fire, but Jackson was hospitalized for days with a burned scalp.
we dont allow a dead man to rest with hair do we we burn the hair also but i lke you thank you sooo muuchhh firozali a mulla
Good on him
[info]nixcails wrote:
Saturday, 27 June 2009 at 05:40 pm (UTC)
stand up for basic right to be a human irrespective of gender preferences.
Hopefully this case will drag Turkiye into the 21st Century.
NIXON GOOD ON WHO REF OR THE RED CARD HE BURNT THIS OR THE GAY PARTY OBAM HAD
[info]famulla wrote:
Saturday, 27 June 2009 at 06:03 pm (UTC)
Good on him nixcails wrote: YOU DRINKING POT AGAIN WITH ICE CREAM ??YOU TEETH WILL MELT I TELL YOU VET TOLD ME

I thank you
Firozali A Mulla
They are called sunglasses
[info]antioppressor wrote:
Sunday, 28 June 2009 at 10:42 am (UTC)

Those thingies on top of Mr. Dincdag's head...that someone here called a miniature frying pan.
That poor fellow is clearly far too young to even know what sunglasses are... some actual adult had to do his typing on the computer keyboard for him.

Good looking and brave man
[info]antioppressor wrote:
Sunday, 28 June 2009 at 10:56 am (UTC)
I wish Halil the best of luck in fighting this discriminatory rubbish. Hope Turkey discovers the 21st century one day and learns to value all its citizens, not just some of them.
[info]antioppressor wrote:
Sunday, 28 June 2009 at 06:08 pm (UTC)
Scot in Canada,

in Scottish Gaelic translated into English.

Bu thoil leibh saoghal gun eaglais idir. You want a world without any church.

Tha mise a' dol dhan eaglais s' a mhaduinn seo. I am going to church this morning.

Agua gach Di-domhnaich as deigh Di-domhnaich. And every Sunday after Sunday.

Is duine saor-intinneach mise cuideachd. I am also a liberal minded man.

Gu ma latha math dhuibh, a charaid! Have a good day, my friend!
[info]antioppressor wrote:
Sunday, 28 June 2009 at 06:59 pm (UTC)
Scot in Canada,

In Scottish Gaelic translated into English,

Am bu thoil leibh saoghal gun eaglais no taigh Dhe idir? You want a world without a church or house of God?

Cha bu thoil leam rud mar sin. I don't want such a thing.

Is fear saor-intinneach mise. tha gu dearbh. I am liberal-minded man, indeed.

Ach, 's fhearr leam fhin a' dol dhan eaglais Di-Domhnaich as deigh Di-Domhnaich. However I prefer to to go to church Sunday after Sunday.

Tha daoine matha ann m'eaglais. There are good people in my church.

Daoine co tha canan glan aca is le croidhe mhath. Le creideamh, ach le h-intinn saor. 'S iad mo chairdean cuideachd. People with clean language and a decent heart. With faith, but with an open mind. My friends also.

Beannachd leibh. Gu ma latha math dhuibh. Good bye. Have a good day.


sorry for the repeated same message
[info]antioppressor wrote:
Sunday, 28 June 2009 at 07:12 pm (UTC)
Didn't realize the first mesage in Scottich Gaelic and English had made it through,

Gone for the day now.
"Does Toroglu assault every pretty girl he passes in the street?"
[info]famulla wrote:
Monday, 21 September 2009 at 08:57 am (UTC)
Gay referee gets red card in Turkey
After coming out on TV, Halil Dincdag sues football federation over sacking
By Nicholas Birch in Istanbul
SUE ALL BUT LEAVE THE
every pretty girl he passes in the street
Please please pless ple ass YOU ARE IN A MUSLIM STATE
EAT WELL AND DRINK WELL BUT NO PILITICS AND RED CARDS PLEASE I DO NOT LIKE BOTH
I thank you
Firozali A Mulla

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