What began as a simple string of Instagram likes has now turned into one of the most unexpected sports-and-social media dramas of the month.
Earlier this week, eagle-eyed fans noticed that Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford had liked several posts from Ece Demir, a talented volleyball player currently making waves for Beşiktaş in Turkey. While Rashford didn’t leave any comments, the repeated likes — some on older posts — did not go unnoticed by Turkish fans, who quickly took to social media to discuss what they had seen.
Within hours, screenshots of Rashford’s Instagram activity began trending on Turkish Twitter (known locally as “X”), with hashtags like #RashfordEce, #VolleyballScandal, and even #EnglishScout rising on the platform.
THE REACTIONS
The Turkish comment sections — especially on Ece Demir’s page — exploded.
Some fans were curious.
Some were angry.
And others, predictably, began to create memes and wild theories.
“Bro, why are you scouting Turkish volleyball players like you’re looking for the Ballon d’Or?” one fan wrote.
“She’s focused on her game. Please don’t distract her with Manchester drama,” said another, adding a crying emoji and the Turkish flag.
A few fans even mockingly accused Rashford of trying to “distract Turkish athletes before Euro 2028.” Others joked that Beşiktaş should now expect a “transfer offer from the Premier League — not for a footballer, but for a volleyball player.”
On the flip side, some fans saw nothing wrong and even defended Rashford, saying it was simply a gesture of admiration and respect between professional athletes.
“People need to relax. Athletes support each other across sports. It’s called respect, not romance,” one Twitter user from the UK posted.
“Ece Demir is brilliant on the court. Maybe Rashford just recognized greatness. That’s all.”
ECE DEMIR RESPONDS… OR DOES SHE?
Interestingly, Ece Demir has not commented publicly. However, fans noticed that shortly after the attention peaked, she limited who could comment on her recent posts and removed the caption from one of the liked photos. Whether this was in direct response to the Rashford frenzy or merely coincidental remains unclear.
No official response has come from Rashford’s camp either. The Manchester United striker, known for his activism and composed public image, has kept silent — which has only fueled more speculation.
A NEW ERA OF INTERNET DRAMA?
Social media has long blurred the lines between athletes’ public and personal lives. With over 15 million followers, Rashford’s every online move is under scrutiny — especially when it crosses into unfamiliar territory, like Turkish volleyball.
Experts in digital media are calling this a new type of sports crossover, where even a harmless double tap can spark international headlines, outrage, and online chaos. What makes this case even more peculiar is that Rashford and Demir have never been publicly connected before.
Some British tabloids have already picked up the story, titling it “Rashford’s Turkish Spike” and “Caught in the Net.” Meanwhile, Turkish media outlets are debating whether this was inappropriate behavior or just a social media storm blown out of proportion.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
As of now, it seems both parties are staying quiet, allowing the online drama to either fade or explode further depending on future actions. Turkish fans are keeping an eye on Rashford’s Instagram feed, waiting to see if another like appears — while United fans are playfully urging him to “like goals more than photos.”
In the world of sports, where boundaries between personal lives and public personas are thinner than ever, this episode is just another reminder: in the digital age, even silence can be loud.
And one Instagram like can shake two nations.
