İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu: My only wish is that no one notices the referee on the pitch

Before the Trabzonspor - Galatasaray match in the 28th week of the Trendyol Süper Lig, Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu made statements to members of the press.

Hacıosmanoğlu, who spoke on many topics ranging from the goals of the A National Football Team to referee management, bonus debates, and the issue of the head coach, gave noteworthy messages.

"This is a national cause, not limited to 80 million"

Starting his remarks by wishing both teams success and emphasizing that Turkish football should be in unity and solidarity, President Hacıosmanoğlu said, "I wish both teams success. Because we qualified for the World Cup, I visited the graves of my mother and father. Very valuable presidents have served Turkish football as federation president. Therefore, there is no need to separate them because they are from Trabzon. This is a national cause; do not even think of it as limited to 80 million. We represent the Turkish-Islamic world. Nearly 20 country federations called and said, 'Do not think of it as 80 million; we are waiting for Turkey's success in the World Cup and we will be proud of it.' Even after we eliminated Kosovo, the president of the Kosovo Football Federation called and wished us success. God willing, we will win the cup and bring it home," he stated.

"My only wish is that no one notices the referee on the pitch, and sees the football being played"

Expressing his expectations regarding the Trabzonspor - Galatasaray match and drawing attention to referee management, İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu said, "Football is played on the pitch. My only wish is that no one notices the referee on the pitch and instead sees the football being played. I hope it will be that way, and that our referee colleagues will manage the match well. May no one's rights be violated. May the one who deserves it win."

"If we were able to motivate the children, how happy for us"

Speaking about the bonuses allegedly to be given to the national team players, Hacıosmanoğlu said, "God granted me the TFF presidency. Money is needed for days like these. If we were able to motivate the children, how happy for us. We will not take the money to the grave. Let no one worry; we are giving it to the children with our own money, with our own capital. If we become world champions, our players will perhaps encounter things they never even imagined. People look for other things behind some things, but I do not hear them," he said.

"We will continue on our path with Montella"

Responding to a question about the future of A National Football Team Head Coach Vincenzo Montella, President Hacıosmanoğlu said, "We have a long-term contract with him. Even if we had lost to Kosovo, we would have continued to be with him. As long as I am at the head of this federation, our coach will be at the head of the team. He built this national team himself; he created this family environment. I hope he will continue to be at the head of this team," he stated.

News Source: 12punto