Fenerbahce fans spark controversy with blackface greeting for N’Golo Kante
A pair of Fenerbahce supporters sparked controversy this week after greeting N’Golo Kante at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen International Airport with their faces painted black, reports BritPanorama.
The two individuals were spotted among thousands of fans who had gathered to welcome the French midfielder upon his arrival to finalise his transfer to the Turkish club. One of the supporters had Kante’s name written across his forehead, while the other was photographed wearing a yellow and blue Fenerbahce scarf.
The practice of blackface is widely regarded as racist in many cultures, though some in Turkey maintain it represents a form of admiration rather than offence. Kante arrives in Turkey as a two-time Premier League champion, having lifted the title with Leicester City before adding another winners’ medal at Chelsea.
At 34, he also claimed football’s ultimate prize when France triumphed at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. His departure from Stamford Bridge came in 2023 when he left as a free agent to join Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ittihad, reportedly earning £21.6 million annually during his time in the Middle East.
The move to Fenerbahce appeared destined to fall through earlier this week when the club issued a statement attributing the deal’s collapse to Al-Ittihad. Reports indicated the Saudi club had failed to submit the necessary documentation required for the transaction to proceed.
However, the situation was salvaged on Wednesday following intervention from Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The head of state had been conducting an official visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, during which he reportedly engaged in discussions concerning Kante’s proposed move.
Fenerbahce subsequently confirmed the transfer had been finalised, expressing gratitude to Erdogan for his role in resolving the impasse. The president’s diplomatic involvement proved decisive in ensuring the French midfielder could complete his move to Istanbul despite administrative complications that had threatened to derail the agreement.
Currently, Fenerbahce sits second in the Turkish Super Lig table, having won 13 of their 20 fixtures so far. Kante watched from the stands on Thursday night as they beat Erzurumspor 3-1 in the Turkish Cup. The scene serves as a reminder of the sometimes convoluted intersections between football, culture, and identity, attitudes shifting in the ever-complex landscape of modern sport.
