A story like a joke... Syrian footballer obtained a license using his cousin's Turkish ID: Championship revoked after the truth emerged

Abdurrahman Cüneyd, who played football in Syria, took refuge in Turkey following the civil war in his country. Settling in Antep, Cüneyd participated in the tryouts for Karşıyaka Gençlik Spor Kulübü, which competed in the 1st Amateur League B Group, at the end of 2022. Cüneyd, who impressed during the tryouts, was asked for official documents to obtain his license. Abdurrahman Cüneyd, who is not a citizen of the Republic of Turkey, submitted the documents using the ID of his cousin Hüseyin Leyla, who resembles him and had obtained Turkish citizenship.

Abdurrahman Cüneyd obtained a football player license in the name of Hüseyin Leyla in January 2023 and began playing for Karşıyaka Gençlik Spor.

Abdurrahman Cüneyd was transferred by Karkamış Barak Spor Kulübü in November 2023. Playing in 18 official matches there, Cüneyd made significant contributions to his team with the 10 goals he scored throughout the season.

HE LED HIS TEAM TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THE GOAL HE SCORED

Karkamış Barak Spor won their final match against their closest rival, Gazikent Spor Kulübü, on June 26 with a score of 2-0, with a goal scored by Abdurrahman Cüneyd, becoming champions with 49 points and promoting to the Super Amateur League, the league above.

Gazikent Spor Kulübü, which finished the league in 2nd place with 48 points, filed an objection, stating that Abdurrahman Cüneyd had obtained his license using a different identity. As a result of the objection, the Turkish Football Federation Amateur Football Disciplinary Board Arbitration Committee ruled to deduct 3 points from Karkamış Barak Spor and declared them to have lost 3-0, while Abdurrahman Cüneyd was given a 24-match ban from official competitions.

Following the decision, Karkamış Barak Spor took the matter to the 'Arbitration Committee', stating that the club that issued the license for the player, who was said to have played with a license issued in another person's name, was different, that the player had played throughout the season without encountering any warnings or objections, and that if there was a mistake, it could not be attributed to their club and their championship could not be taken away.

HIS COUSIN DENIED THE ACCUSATIONS

On the other hand, in the investigation launched by the prosecutor's office regarding the incident, Abdurrahman Cüneyd, who was said to have played football with a fake license, could not be reached. Hüseyin Leyla, in whose name the license was issued and who gave a statement to the prosecutor's office following the complaint, stated that they were relatives with Abdurrahman Cüneyd and that he had never played in any football match before. Stating that he knew Abdurrahman Cüneyd was a footballer, Hüseyin Leyla said, "Abdurrahman is not a relative I see constantly, but I know he is a footballer. I do not have any football player license, and I never have. I did not give my ID or identity information to anyone to obtain one. I do not accept any of the accusations."

Karkamış Barak Spor Kulübü President Metin Ünal also said that the player in question was licensed and that they were not the institution to track this. He stated that they transferred Hüseyin Leyla within the framework of legal procedures.

EVEN HIS WIFE CALLED HIM HÜSEYİN

Karkamış Barak Spor Captain Ali Kalkan stated that Hüseyin Leyla spent one season with the team and explained that they never told them his name was Abdurrahman. He said that even his wife called him Hüseyin in front of his teammates.

In line with the decision to be made by the Football Federation Arbitration Committee, it will be registered who will be the champion in the Gaziantep 1st Amateur League B Group and promote to the Super Amateur League.