August 5 – Two days after the mass resignations of Turkey’s leading football executives, ostensibly to assist the government investigation into US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen who the authorities accuse of being behind the coup that left more than 200 people dead, almost 100 other staff, many of them referees, have now been suspended, boosting the autocratic regime of president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The federation said in a statement that it had “deemed it necessary to dismiss 94 people, including regional and nationally ranked referees and assistant referees, regional refereeing committee members and national and regional observers.”
The statement gave no details on why so many officials had been dismissed but local reports say many of them were in some way linked to the military whose recent uprising was quashed before it had time to take root.
FIFA is likely to take a dim view of such a draconian measure when football is supposed to be independent from government activities. Agency reports said those sacked are believed to be linked in some way to Gülen whose supporters were accused of also being responsible for the recent match-fixing involving Fenerbahce whose President Aziz Yıldırım served time in jail.
More than 60,000 in the military, judiciary, civil service and education have been detained, suspended or placed under investigation in Turkey since the coup but until this week sport had seemingly remained clear of any involvement. The upcoming Turkish league season will still go ahead but it not known who will replace those suspended.
The latest move effectively permits Erdogan, who has not altogether convincingly preached the mantra of democracy, to take control of Turkish football – a strong political tool in the country – despite strict FIFA rules that outlaws government interference.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1714273818labto1714273818ofdlr1714273818owedi1714273818sni@w1714273818ahsra1714273818w.wer1714273818dna1714273818