A Turkish-German footballer has fled Turkey after being racially attacked while he was out shopping.
Deniz Naki, who plays for Turkish Super League club Genclerbirligi, has recently expressed his support for the Kurds, while criticising Islamic State militants, on social media.
The striker was approached by a group of men and was given a black eye when he was food shopping.
"They were swearing and asking: 'Are you that dirty Kurd? Are you Deniz Naki?'" Naki told BBC News.
"I tried to calm them down. But suddenly one of them punched me in the eye. Trying to defend myself, I punched one of them back and started running away.
"As I was running I heard them shout: 'Was the first warning not enough? This is your second and last warning. Leave this country, leave this city, leave this football club!'"
The 25-year-old explained that he fled Turkey for Germany for the safety of his friends and family and has no intention of returning.
Sam McEvoy
