To anyone who has closely followed the career of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's current president, the man's love of soccer and his dream of having a team of his own are quite well known. In recent months in casual conversations with Al-Monitor, sources close to the presidential palace floated the idea of the presidency fielding a professional team. On Feb. 6, such talk appeared to become a reality, with sports pages reporting on the founding of the Presidency Sports Club (Cumhurbaskanligi Spor).

The Turkish Confederation of Amateur Sports Clubs confirmed the news, and the website of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) listed the club as a member, with its first match scheduled against Justice Sport (Adaletspor) in mid-March. The team's official colors were identified as red, white and turquoise, and practices were to be held on the palace grounds. Alas, President Erdogan’s dream of a team of his own was only short lived.

In less than 24 hours, unidentified presidential sources denied the previous reports. Websites supporting Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) immediately deleted stories about the team, and the TFF scratched the team's name. Abdurrahman Dilipak, prominent columnist for the Islamist daily Yeni Safak, took delight in no such team being established. The public ridicule was simply too great.

Interested observers wondered what would happen if fans booed Presidency or hurled slurs against it or if the club irritated hooligans easily prone to violence. How could a team bearing the president's colors, emblem and office find a fan base in a league where allegiance to a team is for life and passed down in families from fathers to sons across generations?