Christian Atsu, Hatayspor’s Sporting Director Missing After Earthquake in Turkey | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
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Hatayspor midfielder Christian Atsu, who previously played for Chelsea, Newcastle and Everton, is among those missing following the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday, per ESPN.
The report noted Hatayspor spokesperson Mustafa Ozat told Turkish media that “Christian Atsu and [club sporting director] Taner Savut are still under the rubble” of an apartment building that collapsed.
Other members of the Turkish club have been accounted for, although at least two other players needed to be rescued.
Atsu represented Ghana at the 2014 World Cup and at four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. He played for Newcastle and Everton while on loan from Chelsea and joined his current side in September.
The Ghana Football Association, Chelsea and Newcastle were among those who tweeted support for the 31-year-old:
Ghana Football Association @ghanafaofficial
We pray for Ghana International Christian Atsu and victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. <br><br>We continue with our efforts to establish contact with officials of Hataspor and the Turkish Football Federation, considering the difficult situation. 1/2
CNN noted that more than 3,800 people were killed from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake and “multiple strong aftershocks” that included a quake of magnitude 7.5.
President Joe Biden said the United States “authorized an immediate U.S. response” and that humanitarian partners were also responding to the situation.
Atsu scored the winning goal for Hatayspor on Sunday night in their 1-0 victory over Kasımpasa that happened just hours before the earthquake struck.
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