EMRE BELöZOğLU

'Emre Belözoğlu', also known as 'Emre' (born 7 September 1980) is a Turkish footballer. He is a midfielder for FA Premier League club Newcastle United and Turkey. In 2004, he was selected to FIFA 100 by Pelé as one of the 125 best living footballers.^[1]
Belözoğlu was born in İstanbul. He is good friends with Buruk Okan, Hakan Şükür, and mentor Fatih Terim.^{[2] [3]}

Contents

Biography

Galatasaray

Inter Milan

Newcastle United

Controversy

Notes

External links

Biography

Galatasaray

Belözoğlu was developed by Turkish club Galatasaray, and made his first appearance for the club's senior squad as a sixteen-year-old in the 1996-97 season. The following year, he became a regular, and continued with the club through the 2000-01 season, picking up a UEFA Cup winners' medal in 2000. At the beginning of a 2000-2001 season, he also picked up a UEFA Super Cup winners' medal after Galatasaray defeated Champions League winners Real Madrid 2–1. Belözoğlu also played in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with Galatasaray that season.

Inter Milan

In 2001, he transferred to Internazionale where he helped the team reach the semi-finals of the Champions League in his first season. His good form for Inter resulted in an international call-up for Turkey in the 2002 World Cup, where they finished third overall with Emre one of the players impressing. However, Emre gradually became out of favour at Inter and after making just nineteen appearances during the 2004-2005 season, he became available for transfer. There was interest from numerous clubs, particularly Everton and Newcastle United.^[4]

Newcastle United

On 14 July 2005, Belözoğlu moved to Newcastle United for a £3.8 million transfer fee.^[5] He scored his first goal for Newcastle in a 5–0 friendly win against Yeading and scored his first Premier League goal with a free-kick against fierce rivals Sunderland in October 2005.
Belözoğlu has proved a fairly popular player amongst the Newcastle fans as well as showing his ability to win matches. He has twice scored the final and decisive goal for Newcastle in separate 3–2 wins. Once from a free kick against Sunderland and once with a late goal on 6 December, 2006 against Reading. He also scored the only goal to secure a win against Birmingham City.
On 21 April, 2007, Emre stated he wanted to stay at Newcastle, despite being linked with moves to Bayern Munich and former club Galatasaray.^[6] On 22 May, 2007, Emre once again announced he wished to at least see his contract out with Newcastle, after persistent rumours arose about interest from Bayern Munich and Fenerbahçe.^[7]
His transfer from Inter Milan to Newcastle United in July 2005 is one of those about which the Stevens inquiry report in June 2007 expressed concerns:
''“There remains inconsistencies in evidence provided by Graeme Souness - a former manager of the club - and Kenneth Shepherd - apparently acting in an undefined role but not as a club official - as to their respective roles in transfer negotiations.”''
''“The inquiry has been unable to obtain the co-operation of the agent Ahmet Bulut”''^[8].

Controversy

After a post-match brawl in a 2006 World Cup qualification playoff match with Switzerland, Emre was banned for Turkey's next six matches and fined CHF 15,000 (£6,622) plus costs of CHF 1,000 (£440) for his alleged part in the brawl. The FIFA Appeal Committee later reduced the ban to four matches.^[9]
On 12 January 2007, Emre was charged by The Football Association with using racially-aggravated abusive and/or insulting words^[10] in an incident during a 3-0 loss to Everton on 30 December. Newcastle were unable to comment until Belözoğlu himself replied to the charge.^[11] He later stated he was angered by claims that he was racist, citing his friendship with room-mate Obafemi Martins as evidence he was not.^[12]
On 16 February 2007, the FA announced another investigation into alleged racist remarks from Emre, this time aimed against Bolton Wanderers striker El Hadji Diouf. The incident allegedly took place during Bolton's 2-1 win at St James' Park on 15 October 2006. Emre's agent denied the accusation.^[13] Diouf subsequently decided not to press charges. However on 1 March 2007 Emre faced a third racism allegation, when Watford defender Alhassan Bangura claimed he was subject of racist abuse from Emre.^[14]
On 19 March, 2007 the allegations of Emre using racially-aggravated abusive and/or insulting words during the Everton match were found not proven by the FA.^[15]

Notes

1. The Fifa 100

2. Emre Belozoglu
3. Profile - Belozoglu Emre
4. Moyes & Souness battle for Emre
5. Newcastle finalise Emre transfer
6. Emre: I want to stay
7. Emre plans Toon stay
8. What Stevens said about each club
9. Sanctions for incidents during Turkey v. Switzerland pronounced final - reduced penalties for Turkish football association, Huggel and Emre
10. Emre charged
11. FA Emre Charge - Newcastle Statement
12. Emre: I may quit over racism charge
13. FA to probe new Emre race claims
14. Emre faces new racism allegation
15. Emre racism allegations 'not proven' - FA

External links

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