ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish football giants Galatasaray has removed a promotional video featuring gold-colored wrapping paper following criticism from Kurdish football supporters who interpreted the imagery as a reference to the “yellow bags” associated with the bodies of slain Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) members.
On Saturday, Galatasaray’s official merchandise outlet, GSStore, published a promotional video for a special-edition shirt dedicated to Turkish international Baris Alper Yılmaz, who scored the club’s fourth goal in its 4-3 victory over Kurdish club Amedspor.
The video featured gold-colored tissue paper used to wrap the shirt inside a collector’s box. The imagery sparked outrage among some Kurdish supporters, who interpreted it as a reference to sarı torba, Turkish for “yellow bag”, a term associated with the yellow body bags used to transport the remains of slain PKK fighters.
The expression has become particularly sensitive among Kurds in Turkey, where yellow bags have been used by some Turkish nationalists to mock the deaths of Kurdish militants and, in some instances, to taunt Kurdish football supporters. For many Kurds, the imagery evokes memories of the decades-long conflict between the Turkish state and the PKK, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
Following the criticism, GSStore deleted the original promotional clip and issued a statement denying that the imagery carried any political message.
“We regret to see that the image of gold-colored tissue paper used in the promotional video for a jersey specially designed for our footballer Baris Alper Yılmaz has been interpreted in different ways,” it said.
“The image in question is merely part of the product’s special packaging design and carries no other meaning or message.”
The outlet subsequently published a longer promotional video showing the shirt and its packaging in greater detail. The special-edition product, branded “Invincible”, features Galatasaray colors, the player's signature and the club crest, and is presented in a numbered collector’s box.
The controversy prompted a strong reaction from Amedspor President Nahit Eren, who initially demanded an apology and action against those responsible for producing the promotional material.
“Deleting the post is not enough!” Eren said on Sunday.
“We call on them to publicly explain the purpose behind this post and who was responsible for it, initiate the necessary action against those responsible, and issue an apology. This appalling conduct cannot be brushed under the carpet under the pretext of ‘jersey promotion.’”
However, Eren later softened his position following direct communication with Galatasaray officials.
Speaking to HT Spor, Eren said Galatasaray's management had assured him that the promotional video was not intended to carry the meaning attributed to it in the public debate.
Eren welcomed the club's decision to contact Amedspor directly, saying he appreciated the explanation and accepted Galatasaray's account of its intentions.
Bar associations divided
The controversy also prompted a legal dispute, with 15 bar associations from predominantly Kurdish provinces, including Diyarbakir, Van, Mardin, Batman and Sirnak, issuing a joint statement condemning the imagery.
The associations argued that the yellow bag carries painful associations with death, loss and mourning in Kurdish collective memory and should not be used in football rivalries.
They also announced plans to pursue legal action against those responsible for producing and publishing the promotional material.
However, the Istanbul Bar Association criticized the joint statement, arguing that the imagery should not automatically be interpreted as a symbol of collective suffering.
It said Galatasaray had already clarified its intentions and accused the 15 associations of selectively invoking collective memory while overlooking the suffering of Turkish soldiers, veterans and victims of terrorism.
The dispute comes amid longstanding tensions surrounding Kurdish identity and expressions of nationalism in Turkish football, particularly during matches involving Amedspor, a club based in the predominantly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir, known to Kurds as Amed.
In August, supporters of Kocaelispor waved yellow plastic bags towards Amedspor fans during a Turkish Super League match, triggering outrage and a criminal investigation.
The Kocaeli Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the August 24 incident, identifying and detaining five supporters.
The five were placed under house arrest on August 26 as authorities investigated allegations including incitement to hatred and hostility, threats and insulting chants.
The latest controversy comes amid an ongoing peace process between the PKK and Ankara that began more than two years ago. The group has since announced its dissolution and decided to lay down its arms. The Turkish parliament has also passed legislation establishing a framework for the disarmament process and the reintegration of PKK members into society.
The controversy also comes as Amedspor has made historic gains in the Turkish Super League. A victory in Saturday’s match could have strengthened the club’s prospects of qualifying for European competitions.
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