A World Cup broadcaster has suspended one of its commentators after he confused Iran and New Zealand during their World Cup clash. Turkish state broadcaster TRT moved to suspend Murat Ekrem Cimen after he mixed up the teams' kits during the World Cup 2026 encounter on Tuesday.
Commentator's Mistake
For the opening four minutes of the match in Los Angeles, Cimen commentated as though the side wearing white was New Zealand and those in black were Iran, when in fact the opposite was true. It was only when the cameras panned to show Iran's Mehdi Taremi from behind, with his name clearly visible on the back of his shirt, that the commentator realised his error and corrected himself.
Viral Clip and Backlash
The four-minute clip swiftly went viral on social media, prompting a wave of fierce criticism directed at TRT. Cimen subsequently issued a public apology, while his employers released a statement confirming that a commentator had been stood down for the remainder of the World Cup, though they stopped short of identifying him by name.
TRT's Statement
TRT said: "The necessary administrative and investigative processes regarding this error, which is inconsistent with TRT Sports' decades-long broadcasting expertise, experience, and commitment to quality, have been immediately initiated. At the conclusion of the process, the necessary actions will be fully implemented."
"The relevant commentator has been withdrawn from the World Cup broadcast team in the US as part of the investigation process and will not continue with the tournament broadcasts. It is unacceptable for TRT that a figure with over 30 years of experience in sports broadcasting would make such a mistake."
"TRT does not tolerate any practices that violate broadcasting standards in national and international events reaching millions of viewers."
Commentator's Experience
Cimen is a seasoned professional with nearly three decades of experience in sports broadcasting. He has been providing commentary for TRT since 2008, covering a wide range of events including football, making his mistake all the more striking.
Match Result
Iran fought back twice in Los Angeles to deny New Zealand their maiden World Cup victory. Motherwell striker Elijah Just put New Zealand ahead on two occasions, but the Kiwis were pulled back each time. Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi both found the net for Iran as they secured a 2-2 draw. New Zealand currently top the group with Iran on goals scored after Belgium and Egypt played out a 1-1 draw.
