ANKARA: Hakan Sukur, former captain of Turkey and 2002 World Cup hero, is being sought by Turkish prosecutors investigating the failed July coup.

An arrest warrant has been issued for the country’ former centre-forward and captain after searches were carried out at two houses in western Turkey where officials said he faced charges of being a member of an “armed terrorist organisation”.

A former MP for the ruling AKP, Hakan Sukur has in the past been considered a supporter of controversial, United States-based cleric Fethullah Gulen who has been blamed by President Reccip Erdogan for the coup attempt.

Hakan Sukur, the former Galatasaray star who scored 51 goals in 112 appearances for Turkey, is reported to have moved to the US several months ago.

The ex-player’s father and former personal manager, Selmet Sukur, was arrested in his home town of Adapazari.

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