Turkish Broadcaster Removes Commentator Over Iran-New Zealand Mix-Up at World Cup

The Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) has decided to remove sports commentator Murad Ekrem Gimen from its team covering the 2026 World Cup following a notable error he made during the Iran versus New Zealand match.

According to Turkey Today, the mistake occurred in the opening minutes of the game when Gimen incorrectly attributed attacks by the Iranian team to New Zealand and described New Zealand's chances as if they belonged to Iran.

This confusion persisted for several minutes, causing bewilderment among viewers watching the match on TRT. The error was only corrected after Iranian forward Mehdi Taremi appeared on screen, allowing the commentator to properly identify the teams and continue his coverage normally.

The incident sparked widespread criticism on social media and among football fans, prompting TRT to issue an official apology to its audience and the general public.

In its statement, TRT described the error during the Iran-New Zealand broadcast as "unacceptable according to the channel's established broadcasting standards." The network added that it immediately initiated administrative and supervisory procedures to investigate the matter, emphasizing that the mistake does not reflect the extensive experience and professional standards of TRT Spor.

TRT also announced the removal of the commentator from the coverage team based in the United States for the duration of the investigation, confirming that he will not continue commentating on World Cup matches for the time being.

The broadcaster stressed that such an error from a commentator with over 30 years of experience in sports media is unacceptable and affirmed it will not tolerate any conduct that conflicts with its professional standards during major sporting events.

On the sporting front, Iran drew 2-2 against New Zealand in their group stage opener on Tuesday morning.

The 2026 World Cup is being hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, featuring 48 teams for the first time in the tournament's history. The competition runs from June 11 to July 19.