Deniz Undav, striker for VfB Stuttgart and the German national football team, was subjected to racist abuse by home fans during a Europa League match against Fenerbahçe Istanbul. The incident has sparked widespread outrage.
On the evening of Thursday, October 23, Istanbul’s Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium hosted the Europa League game between Fenerbahçe and Stuttgart.
Although the home team won 1–0, the match was overshadowed by racist and insulting behavior from a section of Fenerbahçe supporters directed at Undav, the Kurdish-German forward of the German national team.
According to media reports, some Fenerbahçe fans hurled sexist insults at Undav’s mother and called him a “traitor,” “terrorist,” and “homeless dog.” Videos posted on social media—many by Fenerbahçe supporters themselves—confirmed these reports.
The insults escalated after a brief altercation between Undav and Fenerbahçe midfielder İsmail Yüksek at the end of the game, which even turned physical.
After the match, Undav avoided commenting on the abuse, saying he preferred to focus on his team’s performance. However, the anti-Kurdish hate speech quickly spread across social networks, with tens of thousands of posts targeting him in the following days.
The origin of the attacks against Deniz Undav
Undav’s father is Kurdish from Turkey, which means he was eligible to play for the Turkish national team. However, when he was called up to Germany’s national squad in March 2024, he immediately accepted, saying: “It was always clear to me that I only wanted to play for Germany. I grew up here. When the national coach called, I didn’t hesitate for a second.”
He added: “I could have played for Turkey, but if I had one bad match, you’d see how harshly I’d be criticized.”
Later, at a press conference, when a German journalist referred to him as “of Turkish origin,” he replied: “Actually, I’m Kurdish by origin.”
That statement, too, triggered months of racist attacks online, which have now reached their peak after the Istanbul match.
Solidarity and outrage against racism
The Kurdish Community in Germany (KGD) strongly condemned the abuse, stating:
“These insults are unacceptable and rooted in anti-Kurdish racism. Football should unite, not divide.”
They called on UEFA, the German Football Association (DFB), and VfB Stuttgart to take firm action.
The Anti-Kurdish Racism Information Center and the Kurdish Human Rights Center in Germany also released a joint statement:
“The attacks on Undav have reached a peak. He has been targeted by racist hostility for months. Sports organizations must speak out publicly against all forms of racism.”
Prominent Kurdish figures also reacted. Düzen Tekkal, a Kurdish-German activist and founder of HAWAR Help, expressed solidarity:
“Undav is being attacked because he proudly identifies as Kurdish-Yazidi. This shows that even in Germany, standing by one’s roots isn’t easy. Far-right groups like the Grey Wolves use football to spread their ideology.”
Several members of the Turkish parliament from the DEM Party also condemned the attacks, calling them an example of “deep-rooted anti-Kurdish hatred.”
According to Arena News, the Bar Association of Şırnak, a Kurdish province in Turkey, announced it would file a formal complaint against Serkan Balcı, a former footballer and TV pundit who had called Undav “dishonorable” during a broadcast—remarks that triggered additional public outrage.
VfB Stuttgart issued a firm statement: “We stand for diversity, tolerance, mutual respect, and fair play. Racism, extremism, discrimination, and exclusion have no place—neither in stadiums nor anywhere else in our society.”
German Green Party politician Cem Özdemir also expressed support: “Deniz Undav has my full backing.”
Deniz Undav – a late-blooming star in German football
Deniz Undav, 29, was born in Varel, Lower Saxony, Germany. His father is from Viranşehir in Kurdish Turkey, and his mother from Qamishlo in Kurdish Syria. Both are Kurdish Yazidis.
Undav took an unconventional route to Germany’s national team. At 16, he was released from Werder Bremen’s youth academy and nearly quit football. His father and uncle encouraged him to continue, and he restarted in Germany’s fourth division.
He later shone at Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium, scoring 26 goals in the 2022 season and becoming the league’s top scorer. In 2023, he joined Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League but got little playing time, scoring only six goals.
The following year, he moved on loan to Stuttgart, where he truly made his mark—scoring 18 goals and providing 10 assists in the 2023–24 Bundesliga season, helping the team finish second.
He debuted for Germany’s national team in March 2024, and his story—from the lower leagues to international football—has made him an inspiration for many fans. His humility, such as carrying his boots in a trash bag instead of a sports bag, has made him even more popular.
Germany’s coach Julian Nagelsmann praised him: “Deniz does a great job. He doesn’t need many chances to score—that’s his key. He’s smart, technically sharp, and hard to defend because of his low center of gravity. I’m very satisfied with him and trust him for the future.”
Nagelsmann also described him as “a funny guy who always has something witty to say.”
German football legend Lothar Matthäus added: “Undav is an outstanding striker who also contributes defensively. The only regret is that he was discovered so late by German football.”
Last year, Undav lifted the German Cup with Stuttgart, but due to recurring injuries, he was left out of Germany’s latest national squad.
