14.06.2026 14:20
It has been revealed that the photo of Kerem Aktürkoğlu that spread after the Australia match was generated by artificial intelligence. The use of the fake image on TRT screens caused a major controversy.
After the National Team's 2-0 defeat to Australia in their first match of the 2026 World Cup, a photo shared on social media became a hot topic. The image showing Kerem Aktürkoğlu caught between Australian defenders was shared thousands of times in a short period.
THE PHOTO TURNED OUT TO BE AI-GENERATED
However, it was revealed that the widely discussed image was not real. It was noted that the Australian player appearing with number 15 in the photo was actually Ryan Trewin, who did not play in the match. It was stated that Burgess, who played in the match, wore number 21 on the field. Additionally, the fact that the Turkish jersey in the photo was from a past season rather than the current one strengthened suspicions.
TRT'S BROADCAST SPARKS CONTROVERSY
The use of the fake photo on the broadcaster TRT's screens also drew backlash on social media. Many users criticized the sharing of an unverified image during a live broadcast, arguing that the situation stemmed from a lack of attention.
AI DEBATE GROWS
The increasing realism of images produced with AI technologies in recent years has sparked new debates in the sports world as well.
The latest image spread involving Kerem Aktürkoğlu once again demonstrates how misleading it can be to share AI-generated content without verification.