TFF Fair Play Awards find their winners: Who were the most sportsmanlike?

The winners of the TFF Fair Play Awards for the August-September 2023 period, organized by the TFF Fair Play and Social Responsibility Committee, have been announced. The committee members who took part in this award ceremony, held to promote Fair Play and raise awareness, were Chairman Ali Erten, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Sait Gönen, Prof. Dr. Burhanettin Hacıcaferoğlu, Prof. Dr. Fatma Ayanoğlu, Banu Yelkovan, Attila Gökçe, Ömer Üründül, Berrin Altınöz, and Metin Tekin. The TFF Fair Play and Social Responsibility Committee also decided that the Super Lig awards will be announced to the public every month via the official TFF website.

As a result of the evaluations made by the committee members, the winners and the reasons for their awards are as follows:

MOST SPORTSMANLIKE TEAM: YILPORT SAMSUNSPOR

Reason: The Yılport Samsunspor team was deemed worthy of the award due to their sensitive behavior during the Yılport Samsunspor-İstanbulspor A.Ş. match played on September 3, 2023, in the 4th week of the Trendyol Super Lig. The Yılport Samsunspor management decided to have Academy and Sports School students accompany the teams during the ceremonies for all matches at the New 19 Mayıs Stadium, and they began implementing this decision in this match. During the ceremony, as the National Anthem was being played, the rain intensified significantly. Yılport Samsunspor players used their jerseys as shields to protect their young counterparts from getting wet. Goalkeeper Okan Kocuk and Captain Fofana were joined by the other players. The match was postponed to a later date in the 13th minute due to heavy rainfall. Due to this exemplary behavior, the Samsunspor team was unanimously deemed worthy of the award.

MOST SPORTSMANLIKE MANAGER: PATRICK KLUIVERT (YUKATEL ADANA DEMİRSPOR)

Reason: Patrick Kluivert, one of the most important stars of world football and an unforgettable player for Ajax, Barcelona, and the Dutch National Team, made his presence felt in Adana, where he took his first steps into club management, with his smiling face, polite demeanor, and his embrace of the team and the community. Despite his players receiving 3 red cards and his team losing during the Kasımpaşa A.Ş. - Yukatel Adana Demirspor A.Ş. match played on September 24, 2023, Kluivert earned appreciation for his behavior. Trying to keep the stands and his students away from tension, Kluivert knew how to maintain his composure under pressure. At the end of the match, he did not show the slightest negative or critical attitude towards the opposing team or the match officials. On the contrary, the Dutch manager, who engaged in self-criticism, showed in the short time he has been in our country that he is an exemplary character and was unanimously deemed worthy of the award.

MOST SPORTSMANLIKE FANS: YILPORT SAMSUNSPOR FANS

Reason: Despite being at the bottom of the league and losing 2-0 to Gaziantep FK A.Ş. in the match they hosted in the 7th week, the Yılport Samsunspor fans displayed behavior worthy of Fair Play by applauding the opposing team as they left the pitch at the end of the match. The TFF Fair Play and Social Responsibility Committee unanimously deemed this behavior, which was also praised by opposing team manager Marius Sumudica as "one of the most important moments of my career," worthy of the award.

MOST SPORTSMANLIKE PLAYER: FERNANDO MUSLERA (GALATASARAY)

Reason: He was unanimously deemed worthy of the award due to his respect for his opponents, his habit of congratulating opposing goalkeepers after matches and consoling them when necessary, and his general approach throughout his entire football career that is consistent with Fair Play values and sets an example.

News Source: 12punto