The football community is in turmoil! TFF provides written response to 16 allegations...

The Turkish Football Federation has issued a statement regarding the allegations of money laundering and issues within the refereeing community that have sparked controversy.

The statement from the TFF is as follows:

"As promised during the press conference held on November 7, 2023, the Turkish Football Federation is implementing a transparent and collaborative communication strategy as of today.

You can find the background of the issues that have been discussed in the public eye for some time, categorized by topic for easy tracking and clarity, below.

We know that we understand the problems of the biggest stakeholders of Turkish football, that we will focus on our real work (the future of Turkish football, its reputation in the world arena, its high revenue potential, the sporting performance of our clubs and National Teams, our hosting of the 2032 European Championship, which we will realize for the first time in history...) by uniting rather than separating, and thus easily overcoming our common problems, and we remind you once again that we are always open to constructive criticism.

Sincerely,

REGARDING THE ALLEGATION THAT PRIVILEGES WERE GRANTED TO REFEREES FROM THE IZMIR REGION

No privileges have been granted to the 3 referees mentioned in the allegations (Hakan Ceylan, Alper Ulusoy, Koray Gençerler) in terms of the number of matches they have officiated, as you can examine in ANNEX-1. The allegations made are baseless and untrue.

REGARDING THE ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING HAKAN CEYLAN'S PRIVATE LIFE

This allegation, which was put forward by referee Hakan Ceylan's wife, Leyla Ceylan, and contains no evidence, appeared in a newspaper and was taken to the judiciary with a divorce case, and the judicial process is ongoing. To prevent the possibility of the process negatively affecting his refereeing performance, Hakan Ceylan has not been assigned to matches since October 29, 2023.

REGARDING THE ALLEGATION OF FREE DENTAL TREATMENT FOR JAAP UILENBERG

We consulted with MHK (Central Referee Board) member Tolga Özkalfa, who stated that he has been operating a clinic as a dentist since 1999, that he performed the dental treatment for the then-referee instructor Uilenberg in 2013 in exchange for a fee, and that, contrary to the allegations, he was removed from the FIFA referee list after the treatment process. What he described has been confirmed as seen in the FIFA referee classifications, which you can examine in ANNEX-2-A and ANNEX-2-B.

REGARDING THE ALLEGATION THAT TOLGA ÖZKALFA DID NOT ATTEND REFEREE SEMINARS

We consulted with MHK member Tolga Özkalfa and learned that he attended all seminars organized regarding the training of referees in full during his tenure as Deputy Chairman of the Central Referee Board, and this has been confirmed as you can examine in ANNEX-3. (seminar records, photos taken during the seminar)

REGARDING THE ALLEGATION THAT A FAKE MEDICAL REPORT WAS SUBMITTED TO FIFA

The 3 referees mentioned in the allegations (Hakan Ceylan, Alper Ulusoy, Koray Gençerler) obtained the medical reports stating that they were fit to referee, which they were required to obtain by May 30, 2022, according to the MHK directive. However, these referees moved to the newly formed 11-person VAR staff in August 2022. Thus, 3 VAR referee quotas were added to Turkey's previous FIFA quota of 7 field referees. Since this quota was formed for the first time in September, it was requested that a new medical report be obtained from the 3 relevant referees to be submitted to FIFA. The relevant reports were obtained upon the request of the MHK and delivered to the relevant units, and are presented in ANNEX-4-A, ANNEX-4-B, and ANNEX-4-C. It is established by e-nabız (e-pulse) images that the medical reports are not fake, and they are shared in an approved manner from the institutions where they were obtained.

REGARDING THE ALLEGATION THAT THE TFF PRESIDENT MEETS WITH REFEREES EVERY WEEK

In the first months of his tenure (2022/23 Season), TFF President Mehmet Büyükekşi met with all referees individually, only once within the same week, creating an open platform to hear the problems and expectations of the refereeing community from them. This platform was not repeated, and he has not held any private meetings with any referee for any reason throughout the 2023/24 season.

REGARDING THE RESIGNATION OF ASSISTANT REFEREE KEMAL YILMAZ

Kemal Yılmaz, who resigned just two months before reaching the age limit, had officiated in 5 of the 10 weeks and was assigned as an AVAR referee for 2 weeks. As you can examine in ANNEX-5, the average number of matches for other Assistant Referees in the Super League is 4.4.

Following the 9th week Fenerbahçe - Hatayspor match, which he cited as the reason for his resignation, the MHK conducted a detailed analysis not only of him, as he claimed, but of all the match officials, VAR referees, and observers, and the entire team was not assigned to matches the following week.

REGARDING THE DEMAND TO DISCLOSE THE CONTENT OF SERDAR TATLI'S LETTER

It has been confirmed that a personal letter was given to the then-Secretary General Kadir Kardaş by Serdar Tatlı, who resigned from the MHK Presidency in 2021, addressed to Servet Yardımcı, who served as TFF President between April and June 2022. Kadir Kardaş stated that he delivered the letter directly to Servet Yardımcı without opening the envelope or recording it in TFF records because it was left in a sealed envelope specifically for Servet Yardımcı. Servet Yardımcı was asked about the content of the letter, and no statement has been received so far.

REGARDING THE CRITICISM OF DOUBLE STANDARDS REGARDING THE REFERRAL OF İSMAİL KARTAL TO THE DISCIPLINARY BOARD

Article 38 of the Football Disciplinary Instruction requires the examination of all statements made in a way that casts doubt on the impartiality of referees and other match officials.

Article 38 of the Football Disciplinary Instruction, titled "Statements Regarding Referees and Other Match Officials," entered into force on 20.01.2023. On 04.04.2023, Galatasaray Coach Okan Buruk was referred to the Disciplinary Board on the grounds of violating this article. Within the scope of the same article, Fenerbahçe Coach İsmail Kartal was also referred on 31.10.2023.

Along with these, we would like to state that we will be more careful in this regard both in terms of the spirit of the relevant article and in terms of timing, and that we will expand our staff to meticulously follow up on such statements.

REGARDING LALE ORTA SENDING VAR FOOTAGE TO A CLUB PRESIDENT

VAR footage is sent raw and simultaneously from the live broadcast vehicle to the broadcaster and the TFF VAR room. Therefore, all footage available in the VAR room may also be available to the broadcaster at the same time. What is confidential is not the footage, but the conversations between the referees on the field and the referees in the VAR room.

The allegation that the then-MHK President sent VAR footage to a Club President was referred to the Ethics Committee with the decision taken by the TFF Board of Directors on 18.10.2023, the committee has initiated the relevant investigation, and the process is ongoing.

REGARDING THE ALLEGATION THAT 2020/21 SEASON VAR RECORDS WERE GIVEN TO CÜNEYT ÇAKIR BY TARIK ONGUN

On 04.04.2022, the MHK applied to the Legal Consultancy regarding allegations that Tarık Ongun listened to the VAR records of a match played the previous week, in which he was not on duty, before a match in which he was on duty as an AVAR on 26.11.2021. As alleged, the claim was that VAR records for a single match were listened to, not for a whole season. The Legal Consultancy did not find any findings supporting this allegation as a result of its examinations and the written and signed statements it received from the relevant persons and witnesses.

A Board of Directors decision was taken on 01.11.2023 regarding the allegations brought back to the agenda by a TFF General Assembly Member, and it was requested that the allegations regarding Tarık Ongun be re-examined by the MHK. The letter sent to us by the MHK regarding the subject is presented in ANNEX-6.

REGARDING THE ALLEGATIONS OF MANIPULATION OF REFEREES AND ATTEMPTS TO MAKE CERTAIN CLUBS CHAMPIONS

Regarding the allegations in question, the TFF Board of Directors referred the allegations put forward by Ahmet Çakar, who is also a TFF General Assembly member, to the Ethics Committee on 16.10.2023 for examination. The issues forming the basis of the decision are presented in ANNEX-7.

In addition, on 20.10.2023, Ahmet Çakar was referred to the Ethics Committee by the Disciplinary Inspectorate for making statements contrary to ethical principles through press and media organizations. The issues forming the basis of the referral are included in ANNEX-8.

REGARDING THE ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING DARICA GENÇLERBİRLİĞİ'S ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE MATCH RESULTS

Following the application of Kızılcabölük Sports Club dated 13.10.2022, the TFF Board of Directors referred the case to the Ethics Committee and then to the PFDK (Professional Football Disciplinary Board) with its meeting dated 19.11.2022 and numbered 43. With the decision taken by the PFDK on 30.05.2023, it was stated that there was no need to impose a penalty on Darıca Gençlerbirliği because the elements of the disciplinary violation alleged for the attempt to influence the match result were not formed, and the former President of the club, Arif Gülen, was given a 1-year ban from sports. Arif Gülen applied to the Arbitration Committee on 05.06.2023, and the committee decided to lift the PFDK decision due to an incomplete investigation and to send the file to the PFDK for re-examination with the decision it took on 20.10.2023. The process is ongoing.

REGARDING THE ALLEGATIONS OF BUCASPOR 1928 CLUB

The allegations in the applications of the club in question to the TFF dated 10.06.2023 and 14.06.2023 were referred to the Ethics Committee. In addition, it was notified to the TFF on 19.06.2023 that a decision of lack of jurisdiction was given in the investigation file 2023/85346 conducted by the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the file and that the file was sent to the Kocaeli Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

REGARDING TUZLASPOR AND MONEY LAUNDERING / ILLEGAL BETTING ALLEGATIONS

The authority to determine ticket prices in football matches belongs to our clubs. In the current TFF regulations, although only a ratio of the guest ticket price to the home ticket price is stipulated, there is no limitation regarding the lower and upper limits of ticket prices.

Furthermore, when the ticket sales figures and the total ticket revenue obtained through the e-ticket system for the matches where the club in question was the host are examined, no abnormality was detected between the tickets sold and the total revenue obtained.

On the other hand, the TFF referred the file to the Ethics Committee with the Board of Directors decision it took on 06.11.2023 to conduct the necessary examinations regarding the illegal betting allegations in the media regarding a match of the club in question. In addition, with its uncompromising stance on money laundering and betting issues, it has planned a detailed process to examine all of the allegations in the finest detail and is in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and other relevant units.

One of the duties of the TFF is to increase the number of spectators in football. Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, we inform the public that we will introduce a regulation on the subject starting from the second half of the season to standardize ticket sales prices.

REGARDING THE DISCUSSION OF THE SPORTS CLUBS AND SPORTS FEDERATION LAW WITH FIFA AND UEFA

The Sports Clubs and Sports Federation Law No. 7405, which entered into force on 26.04.2022, was translated into English and sent to FIFA and UEFA with a cover letter on 17.05.2022. The letters sent to FIFA and UEFA are included in ANNEX-9 and ANNEX-10.

In addition, this situation was reported to the Clubs Association regarding the subject in the letter dated 28.03.2023, which is included in ANNEX-11, as "In addition, the translation text of the Sports Clubs and Sports Federation Law No. 7405, which entered into force on 26.04.2022, was shared with FIFA and UEFA with the official letter of the TFF on 17.05.2022."

News Source: 12punto