Footballer Alara Şehitler
Why a German football talent changed the name on the jersey
At 18 years, Alara Şehitler from FC Bayern is considered one of the great hopes in German women’s football. If it weren’t for her last name, which caused her trouble.
Alara Şehitler, since she moved to FC Bayern in 2023, gathered closer to the first team. It is substituted more frequently and recently was even five times in the starting eleven. The offensive player has already scored three goals in the Bundesliga and one in the Champions League this season. In November 2024 she made her debut in the A-National elf, previously she had gone through all the youngsters of the DFB. With the U17 she became European champion, with the U19 she was in the European Championship final. Last summer she became German champion with the Munich.
But since this year it has been a little different: Şehitler, who grew up in Ravensburg on Lake Constance, only runs up with their first name Alara at games, as is particularly known from Brazilian footballers. The last name is painted.
FC Bayern and DFB supported their project
The reason is simple. Apart from the fact that many people often make the last name wrong (right: Sche-Hitler), he has constantly ensured attention and inappropriate comments. Right -wing extremists, right -wing populists and profile neurotics abused the name for their purposes. But even international media did not shy away from tasteless comparisons with Adolf Hitler and corresponding jokes. The name on the jersey, which often occurs in Turkey, was a burden.
Therefore, Şehitler approached FC Bayern last year to leave out the last name on the jersey. The association and the DFB support their project and made an application to the UEFA because such a process must be approved. The approval came quickly. So Şehitler is the first German professional to only wear the first name on the jersey.
Source: Stern
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