Visiting team walks off the pitch during Bursaspor-Vanspor match
On the final matchday of the TFF 2nd League, Serik Belediyespor fielded its U19 team against Esenler Erokspor. Vanspor, which was in the championship race, protested this situation by withdrawing from the pitch during their match against Bursaspor.
12punto
A remarkable incident occurred during the final matchday of the TFF 2nd League White Group. Vanspor FK, the guest of Bursaspor, withdrew from the pitch.
The visiting team, which had taken to the field with championship aspirations, protested the decision of Serik Belediyespor to field its U19 team in their match against Esenler Erokspor.
Vanspor FK remained motionless on the pitch after the opening whistle and withdrew from the game in the 22nd minute. At that moment, Esenler Erokspor was leading its opponent 3-0.
Before the match, Vanspor had announced that they had received reports that Serikspor, which was set to face their championship rival Erokspor, would play with its U19 team.
Vanspor had made the following statement before the Bursaspor match:
"As is known to the public, while today is the day when the efforts of a season should be rewarded, unfortunately, the football community has been facing serious manipulation for weeks.
According to reports received, while Serik Spor players wanted to participate in the match against Esenler Erokspor and do their best, news spread that Serik Spor would take the field with its U19 team due to the personal initiative and instruction of the relevant club president. Following these reports, the necessity for our club to make a statement has arisen.
It is clear that this situation creates suspicion and casts a shadow over the efforts of the entire season. It is also known to the entire public that with this action, the result of the match is being predetermined and an attempt is being made to guarantee Esenler Erokspor's promotion to the next league.
We hereby inform the esteemed public in advance that if such an action is taken by Serik Spor, our club will initiate all kinds of legal proceedings against the relevant parties in accordance with the Turkish Penal Code, the relevant instructions of the Turkish Football Federation, and the Football Disciplinary Instruction.
What is happening today is a day when not only football but also human dignity is trampled upon. The deliberate action taken by the Serik Belediyespor club president to prevent his team from playing the match is a betrayal not only of the values of sports but also of human dignity. Furthermore, such a situation will cast doubt on the validity of the entire league.
As Vanspor Football Club, we would like to emphasize once again that we will always stand tall against such dark games and tricks and that we will fight for justice to be served. We believe that honesty and fair competition are above all else, and we will do our best to protect these values.
Turkish football must unite against such dark tactics and should not hesitate to take the necessary steps for justice to prevail. In this challenging process, we call on the entire football community to remember and uphold the importance of fair competition and honesty.
On this occasion, we respectfully inform the entire sports public that, as Vanspor Football Club, we have decided not to play in the Bursaspor match in order to show our reaction to this situation and to support clean football, in the event that the Serik Spor and Esenler Erokspor match, which will determine the fate of the league as we tried to explain above, is played with the U19 team."