Controversial Western Sydney striker Kerem Bulut was stood down from Wednesday’s A-League match after being charged with intimidation by police, coach Tony Popovic has confirmed.
Bulut was charged with intimidation following an incident at a McDonald’s in the western Sydney suburb of Auburn, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The reports emerged straight after the Wanderers posted just their second victory of the season with a 3-2 win over Melbourne City at Parramatta Stadium on Wednesday.
Bulut was said to be at McDonald’s with a group of friends on Tuesday night when staff allegedly asked them all to leave, angering the group, who allegedly told the store manager that they should take the argument outside to the car park.
Police were notified of the the incident with Bulut presenting himself to Auburn police station at 4pm on Wednesday – only hours before his side were due to face City.
After Wednesday’s match Popovic confirmed he had been made aware of the incident earlier in the day and made the decision to exclude the controversial striker from the game.
The coach said he would wait until he had all the information before deciding if Bulut would be available to face Melbourne Victory on Friday.
“I was made aware this afternoon there was an incident and he was stood down from the game due to that incident,” Popovic said.
“Now it’s with the club and the authorities and the FFA, it’s in their hands.
“That’s all I can tell you.”
In a statement released late on Wednesday, the Wanderers said they would work with the police and FFA to resolve the matter.
This is not the first time Bulut has caused headlines for the wrong reasons, with the the 23-year-old being charged with gang-related crimes in 2010.
He spent over four years playing in Europe before returning to Australia to join the Wanderers in January.
Bulut scored a double on debut in the heated 4-3 derby loss to Sydney FC last month.
Stadia Cooperoz
Guest
Things are looking up. This was reported as an incident or whatever not a riot or attempted murder as it would have been back in the day. He shouldn't be charged with a crime if former AFL player Dean Brogan assaulted two people including a doctor in a park and got off pretty much Scot free. However the A-League players are now more of an entity than they once were so they have to expect more scrutiny and exercise discretion.
Sunshine
Guest
Surely
AZ_RBB
Guest
Fox reporting that Bulut is likely to start.
Franko
Guest
Surely not?
Clearly_Concussed
Guest
just before he left for Europe I saw a heavily tatooed youngster in an portuguese chicken fast food outlet for lunch. I only noticed him for the amount of tattoos the fact his crew were dropping food on the ground asking staff to clean it up, pushing in front of people when ordering food, and then going back asking for upsized meal after ordering but refusing to pay, verballing people who looked in their direction. Just being grubs and making a general mess. There were only young female staff working. And I remeber him picking out a wad of 50's and waved it in the face of the lady behind counter when asked to pay for the upsized meal (an extra 50c) I thought what a dick, grabbed my burger and left. Back at work there he was in the newspaper "young socceroo" and junior syd fc member charged in assault. I was shocked when I realised it was the same guy I saw some 15mins before. Doesnt seem to have changed his ways.
ciudadmarron
Guest
So would I. Lighten up Real. If you are going to talk rubbish (not one article has mentioned any "young men".... ) then expect some rubbish thrown back your way.
Realfootball
Guest
I would roll over and die before I ate at either Maccas, Jacks or KFC or Subway or any of those transfat junkfood shops and the garbage they call "food'. And don't throw that "middle eastern appearance" rubbish at me you half baked ignoramus. I've noticed for some time that you detract from the collective IQ tally of these threads every time you appear.
yewonk
Guest
Oh so you have opinions we have chips on our shoulders.
ciudadmarron
Guest
Oooh. I bet you're a Hungry Jacks kinda guy, yeah? Lah di dah! You know the Bulut family well I presume to make those kind of judgements, so howabout you give them a ring and find out what really happened and get back to us here. Maybe you're right, and it was a group of young men, perhaps they were of middle eastern appearance too. In the meantime, I'll keep my faith in SBS who did a little bit more digging than others.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
So you will carry that chip on your shoulder always Josh? Because of postcode snobbery in Sydney? You must have very little going on, except for trying to tell everyone that you and your thoughts represent the entire Western Sydney region and commenting on GWS articles on the AFL tab....
AZ_RBB
Guest
Dude you gotta try the new spicy burger**! ** comments have nothing to do with McDonalds sponsorship of WSW or my support of WSW. But discounts will be not be rejected.
BigAl
Guest
Too right ! I have seen and heard media reports about sad Ben Cousins' latest exploits in 4 media outlets today, but this guy's issue, I only learnt of in this forum 15 min. ago ! . . .another screaming example of mainstream media doing a beatup about A-League misdemeanours...
Realfootball
Guest
1. I would hardly dignify the place with the word "restaurant" 2. How do you know he was with his family? The reports suggested a group of young men were involved. 3. If there were Bulut siblings involved, then my statement still applies.
Bondy
Guest
langou We need more nightclub brawls and vomit in our groins with carrot and ripped shirts.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
If he was not directly involved..................WHY WOULD HE BE CHARGED. It smells a bit filet-o-fishy.
josh
Guest
You're from Brisbane you couldn't even begin to understand Sydney and it's famous postcode snobbery.
ciudadmarron
Guest
Come at me!
AZ_RBB
Guest
In most of West Sydney "“Hey. I know you. You’re on the new McWanderer poster” is enough to start a fight lol
ciudadmarron
Guest
That's how he was ID'd. "Hey. I know you. You're on the new McWanderer poster".
AZ_RBB
Guest
You reckon he gets a discount at Maccas since they're a sponsor? If he does, I wanna be his new friend.