Former Turkey goalkeeper Rustu Recber in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus

Keeper is revered at Turkish giants Fenerbahce, where he played for more than a decade

Tuvan Gumrukcu
Sunday 29 March 2020 10:57 EDT
Comments
Coronavirus: How has sport been affected?

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Former Turkey goalkeeper Rustu Recber has been taken to hospital after testing positive for coronavirus and is currently in a “critical period”, his wife said late on Saturday.

“We have taken my husband Rustu to hospital with a Covid-19 diagnosis,” Isil Recber said on her Instagram account, adding that she and her two children had all tested negative.

“While everything was normal, we are still in shock by the sudden and rapidly developing symptoms.”

Rustu, who is Turkey’s most-capped player ever with 120 international appearances, shone as they reached the semi-finals at the 2002 World Cup.

He is revered at Turkish giants Fenerbahce, where he played for more than a decade.

Rustu, 46, also had a short spell at Barcelona and retired from football in 2012 after a five-year stint with Besiktas.

“We convey our wishes for a speedy recovery to our former national team goalkeeper Rustu Recber, who sported our jersey for many years; we wish for him to regain his health as soon as possible and hope to receive good news from him,” Fenerbahce said on Twitter.

“Get well Rustu! We love you and we stand with you!” Barcelona wrote on Twitter in Turkish.

Isil Recber said her husband was isolated at the hospital and that they were not allowed to visit.

“This is a critical period and very difficult. May God give a speedy recovery to all the patients, including my husband,” she said.

Turkey’s death toll from coronavirus increased by 16 to 108 on Saturday as the number of confirmed cases rose by 1,704 to 7,402, health minister Fahrettin Koca said.

Reuters

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in