Feyenoord player Orkun Kökçü, has his own opinions on how the Dutch club handled a similar situation in Qatar, which occurred two months after the dispute with the OneLove band.
Midway through October, the debate surrounding the OneLove initiative caught Kökçü off guard. The midfielder handed the belt to Gernot Trauner after declining to wear it. He continues to support the choice, which Excelsior skipper Redouan El Yaakoubi also made, two months later.
The Feyenoord player tells ESPN that he ‘remains close to my religion’. “I did that at the time. You conclude that your decision must have been sound if you ultimately win that game, score, and assist. On the other hand, I can also comprehend how those on the outside feel. It was entirely private,” he commented.
Kökçü: I remain close to my religion
Kökçü handled the circumstance admirably. “I recovered nicely from it once more. My feet were able to communicate for me. Never once did I think, ‘What have I done now?’ It was a very personal matter to me. I wasn’t concerned about the ruckus and confusion at all. I therefore don’t regret it. But it did create quite a commotion,” he said.
Around the time of the World Cup in Qatar, where FIFA rejected the plans of several nations, including the Netherlands, the OneLove debate rose up once more. As a result, Virgil van Dijk declined to don the captain’s armband. On that, Kökçü had some opinions.
“I want to avoid assigning responsibility. But if you truly believe in anything, you must stand by it no matter what. like I attempted to do. I expected a wide range of emotions to wash over me, but I don’t believe it should be limited to words. What will happen now? I wondered when I learned that they wouldn’t wear it. Will there be a disturbance once more? But that didn’t take place. Finally, I also realise it,” he said.
