Farewell statement from Mehmet Büyükekşi after losing TFF elections: 'We left a mark on Turkish football history'
Former president Mehmet Büyükekşi, who lost the TFF presidential election to İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, has issued a farewell statement.
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The Mehmet Büyükekşi era at the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has come to an end.
In the presidential election, İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu received 134 votes, surpassing Mehmet Büyükekşi by a margin of 5 votes. Mehmet Büyükekşi, who will hand over the seat to Hacıosmanoğlu, issued a farewell statement.
Mehmet Büyükekşi's statement is as follows:
"WE STRIVED TO FULFILL THIS HONORABLE DUTY WITH DIGNITY"
"I congratulate Mr. İbrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu and the members of the Board of Directors who were elected as President as a result of the Turkish Football Federation Ordinary Financial and Elective General Assembly.
During the 25-month period we served, I and our Board members spent intensive effort to serve the country's football in the best possible way. In an environment of extremely close dialogue and cooperation with the valuable members of the Turkish football family, we strived to fulfill this honorable duty with dignity in order to lead our National Teams and clubs to success.
"WE LEFT A MARK"
We became one heart as a nation with the successes we achieved with our National Team at the 2024 European Championship. We experienced the pride of hosting the 2032 European Football Championship, just as we brought the 2026 UEFA Europa League and 2027 Conference League Finals to our country. We also completed the Turkish Football 2024-2028 Strategy Plan to build the future of Turkish football with a common mind. I believe that these selfless efforts we made have been written into the history of Turkish football and have left an unforgettable mark.
I would like to express my gratitude to our President, our esteemed Ministers, our club presidents and members, the members and delegates of the Turkish Football Federation Board of Directors, the valuable employees of our Federation, and finally the Turkish football public, who did not spare their support in our efforts to add value to Turkish football throughout our term of office."