Faruk Bildirici writes: The controversy over the number of TFF invitees to Euro 2024

Media Ombudsman Faruk Bildirici, in an article he wrote regarding allegations that the list of invitees taken to Germany by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) to watch the European Football Championship (EURO 2024) consisted of 613 people, recalled the criticisms directed at the journalists taken by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on his Rome trip.

Bildirici wrote, “The media, which held İmamoğlu accountable for his Rome trip, will not be able to ask about the cost of the Football Federation taking 500-600 invitees to Germany for Euro 2024! Because 36 of the invitees are football writers. They will watch 3 matches in 10 days and spend the remaining time on a tourist trip. All expenses are covered by the TFF.”

Bildirici criticized the situation, stating, “The football media, let alone holding the TFF accountable for squandering the public budget on hundreds of invitees, cannot even report on the number of invitees.”

“The fact that 36 football writers are among the invitees legitimizes TFF President Büyükekşi inviting hundreds of people,” said Bildirici, adding, “The behavior of football writers who accept the cost of the Germany trip being covered by the TFF is unethical. Instead of defending the public interest, they are supporting public loss.”