Beşiktaş have shocked the Turkish football world by announcing the termination of Emirhan Delibaş’s contract, citing his involvement in a dating app as a breach of discipline.
The 21-year-old midfielder, who was hailed as the “Turkish Cristiano Ronaldo” by some media outlets, had recently returned from a loan spell at Göztepe, where he scored one goal in two appearances.
According to sources close to the club, Beşiktaş management were furious when they discovered that Delibaş had created a profile on a popular dating app, where he allegedly boasted about his skills on and off the pitch. The club deemed this as a violation of their code of conduct, which prohibits players from engaging in any activities that could harm their reputation or the club’s image. The club also claimed that Delibaş had failed to report for training on several occasions, and had shown a lack of commitment and professionalism.
Delibaş, who joined Beşiktaş in 2020 from their youth academy, had made only one appearance for the senior team, but was considered as one of the most promising talents in Turkish football. He had also represented Turkey at the under-19 level, earning two caps. His sudden departure from Beşiktaş has sparked a wave of reactions from fans, pundits, and former players, some of whom expressed their sympathy for the young player, while others criticized his attitude and behavior.
Delibaş has not yet commented on the situation, but his dating app profile has reportedly been deleted. It is unclear whether he will appeal the decision, or seek a new club in the near future. His market value, which was estimated at €50k, is likely to drop significantly after this controversy.
