06.02.2026 11:33
The earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023, left deep wounds in the world of sports as well. Many athletes, from Ahmet Eyüp Türkaslan to Christian Atsu, and from volleyball players from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to wrestlers, lost their lives. Volkan Demirel's tearful call for help during the earthquake in Hatay and Gökhan Zan's efforts have become one of the symbolic moments of this great tragedy, etched in memory.
Turkey woke up on the morning of February 6, 2023, to a 7.7 magnitude earthquake centered in Kahramanmaraş. The disaster, which occurred at 04:17, claimed the lives of 53,537 citizens according to official figures, affecting 11 provinces. Despite the passage of 3 years, the pain has neither diminished nor have those days been forgotten. The earthquake also left deep and lasting wounds in the world of sports.
BAD NEWS CAME IN RAPID SUCCESSION
The first heartbreaking news that shook the sports community after the earthquake came from Ahmet Eyüp Türkaslan, the 28-year-old goalkeeper of Yeni Malatyaspor. Following that, the news of the deaths of Hatayspor's Sporting Director Taner Savut, Hatayspor's Christian Atsu, national basketball player Nilay Aydoğan, and a 35-member volleyball team from the TRNC deepened the mourning. As days went by, the losses from the sports world once again revealed the scale of the disaster.
THE SPORTS COMMUNITY UNITED AS ONE
After the disaster, clubs organized aid campaigns, and aid trucks were sent to the region. Football players donated their jerseys, and stars of world football joined the calls for support. The leagues, which were suspended for about three weeks, returned not only to play matches but also to heal wounds together.
ALL SPORTS ACTIVITIES WERE SUSPENDED
Immediately after the earthquake, all sports organizations in the country were suspended. Federations allowed clubs affected by the earthquake to withdraw from the leagues without facing relegation penalties.
4 TEAMS WITHDREW FROM THE LEAGUES
In the Super League, Gaziantep FK and Hatayspor, and in the 1st League, Yeni Malatyaspor and Adanaspor could not complete the season. Some clubs in basketball, volleyball, and handball leagues also had to withdraw from the 2022-2023 season. International organizations were also canceled or postponed.
VOLKAN DEMİREL AND GÖKHAN ZAN BECAME THE VOICE OF HATAY
Volkan Demirel and Gökhan Zan, who were in Hatay during the earthquake, became symbolic figures of the disaster. Hatayspor's head coach Volkan Demirel's tearful call for help on social media was etched in memories.
Gökhan Zan also led efforts to ensure that aid reached the region through his broadcasts. The two were awarded the Fair Play Committee Special Award by the TFF for their sensitivity.
THE HANDBALL COMMUNITY IS IN MOURNING
National handball player Cemal Kütahya lost his life under the rubble along with his pregnant wife and family. Important figures in Turkish handball, Metin Muhacir and his wife, also lost their lives in the earthquake. The Turkish Handball Federation honored their memories by naming the leagues after these two individuals.
HEARTBREAKING NEWS FROM CHRISTIAN ATSU CAME 12 DAYS LATER
The lifeless body of Christian Atsu from Hatayspor was found 12 days later. The Ghana Football Federation retired Atsu's national team jersey number 7. The fact that Atsu scored his only goal for Hatayspor just a day before the earthquake deepened the sorrow even further.
VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS FROM THE TRNC WERE NOT FORGOTTEN
The 35-member volleyball team from the TRNC, who lost their lives in Adıyaman, became known as the "Champion Angels." The elegies and compositions written in their memory show that the pain has not yet subsided.
THE WRESTLING COMMUNITY IN KAHRAMANMARAŞ WAS DEVASTATED
Nine wrestlers working at Kahramanmaraş Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club lost their lives under the rubble. The sports world experienced deep mourning with these losses.