Diyarbakırspor threatens to withdraw from league over racism

Sümer said his team has considered boycotting the match against Galatasaray this weekend. “If you had watched the match, you would have seen that we were right. The racist stance against our team was not limited to the Gaziantepspor match. We have experienced the same thing for several weeks. We wanted to add color to Turkish soccer. … We have informed our governor, mayor and civil society organizations in Diyarbakır about our decision [to withdraw the team from the league]. Our decision is final,” Sümer noted.

Sümer’s remarks were interpreted as a partial withdrawal from the league. The chairman did not provide a clear comment on whether Diyarbakırspor would play other matches.

Diyarbakırspor made the decision after Gaziantepspor fans reportedly chanted racist slogans, accusing Diyarbakırspor of supporting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). “We have nothing to do with politics. Our duty is to serve Turkish soccer. If our team is supposed to damage the reputation of Turkish soccer, then there is no choice other than to withdraw from the league,” Sümer added.

The team had decided to withdraw from the league in late September after the high level of tension they experienced during a match at Bursaspor. The host team’s fans were hostile toward Diyarbakırspor players and fans, accusing them of being “separatists.” Sümer said at the time that if action was not taken to prevent racist slogans and banners, he would withdraw the team from the league.

The Diyarbakırspor chairman complained on Sunday that the Turkish Soccer Federation (TFF) had not taken the necessary action against racism during soccer matches after the experience at Bursaspor.

Diyarbakırspor Press Secretary Suat Önen said hostility against his team was a major threat to Turkish soccer. “We have no problem with anyone. We are trying to play our matches. However, some people are killing Turkish soccer with their attitude. This is not right. They are racist people,” Önen remarked.

In response, Gaziantepspor Chairman İbrahim Kızıl said his fans did not chant any racist slogans against Diyarbakırspor during the match.

“We are both a neighbor and a friend to Diyarbakırspor. We applauded them when they scored the first goal against us. There were no racist slogans during the match. However, there were discouraging chants after the match as the referees were leaving the pitch.”

The Diyarbakırspor chairman’s decision to withdraw his team from the league was not welcomed by Diyarbakırspor fans. A group of Diyarbakır supporters called for Sümer to leave the team on the team’s official Web site. “It has almost become a fashion for Çetin Sümer to withdraw the team from the league.

Diyarbakırspor cannot be withdrawn from the league. It is you [the team’s administration] who have to withdraw from the league. We are tired of your statements,” read a comment left by a Diyarbakırspor fan on the team’s Web site.