A Turkish state broadcaster has taken disciplinary action against a commentator after he incorrectly identified the Iran and New Zealand teams during a live World Cup broadcast. TRT, the national public broadcaster, confirmed on Tuesday that the commentator, named in Turkish media as Murat Ekrem Çimen, had been removed from the US World Cup broadcast team. He will not continue to cover matches for the remainder of the tournament, pending an internal investigation.
The incident occurred during the opening minutes of the Group G match on Monday evening. Reports from Turkish media indicate that Mr Çimen referred to Iran's offensive plays as belonging to New Zealand and vice-versa, causing confusion among viewers. TRT swiftly described the error as 'unacceptable' and a breach of its broadcasting standards, issuing an apology to its audience.
In a statement, TRT expressed its disappointment, noting, 'It is unacceptable for TRT that someone with over 30 years of experience in sports broadcasting would make such a mistake.' The broadcaster emphasised its commitment to accurate reporting and high-quality commentary during major sporting events.
The match itself concluded in a 2-2 draw, with Iran twice coming from behind to secure a point in their opening fixture. Elijah Just put New Zealand ahead on two occasions, only for his goals to be cancelled out by strikes from Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebi. The draw means both teams remain in contention in Group G.
Iran's build-up to the tournament has been notably challenging, amid ongoing political tensions with the US, one of the co-hosting nations. The team relocated its training base to Mexico and has been flying into the US for each of its group stage matches. Following Monday's game, Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei voiced strong criticism, describing his team as the 'most oppressed' at the World Cup due to the demanding travel schedule and recovery limitations.