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Withdrawal threats: Funny approach damaging soccer
“These talks of withdrawing are a funny way to approach soccer,” Zeki Çol, a famous sports commentator and columnist for the Zaman daily who works as media director for the TFF as well, told Sunday’s Zaman. “If there is politicization in soccer, that cannot be solved by a club’s withdrawing from the league, but can be solved through actions of the TFF,” he said, stressing he does not think that Diyarbakırspor was sincere in saying they would withdraw.
Stating that he was on Diyarbakır’s side after the Bursaspor match, but that the second threat was confusing and was not based on legitimate grounds, Çol said the approach of Diyarbakırspor through the course and in the aftermath of the Gaziantepspor match was more like an effort to create a problem rather than to point out a problem. “It is Diyarbakırspor who lost in the process. They proved that they lack effective administration, and their timing was so bad,” he added.
While noting that Fenerbahçe’s threat to withdraw from the league was not similar to the case of Diyarbakırspor, Çol stressed that if a team keeps on making such threats and backs down each time, it loses credibility and added: “These are funny approaches. Soccer is an industry and the duty of its actors is to strengthen it as an industry, not solely as a sport. If a club withdraws, not only that club but also the economy of soccer and soccer itself are harmed with that.”
The soccer expert also recalled that Samsunspor formerly took a break from the league in the middle of a season after suffering a tragic traffic accident, in which several players of the team as well as its coach died on their way to Malatya for a Malatyaspor match, in 1989, and said the withdrawal of a team from the league can be only acceptable in significant events such as natural disasters and accidents, and in such cases, the rights of a team is reserved. “Saying ‘I am not playing’ is a childish expression and it happens in children’s games. Such things also do not comply with the ethics of soccer,” he added.
Agreeing with Çol that the threats of withdrawing from the league are not in line with the ethics of soccer, Mehmet Gönülaçar, sports commentator at TRT 6, which was launched in January of this year to provide a TV channel for Kurdish citizens and which broadcasts in Kurdish language 24 hours a day, said the threats of Diyarbakırspor do not have legitimate bases but were rather an accumulation of reactions to previous negative experiences.
“I go to almost every Diyarbakırspor match and I was present at the two games we are talking about. Politics should not spill onto soccer pitches. We are all living in this country and we must be respectful to each other,” Gönülaçar said.
Gönülaçar further stressed that the reaction of the Diyarbakırspor administration was not a decision taken after a process of in-depth reflection and recalled they backed down from their decision soon. Noting that there were many referee mistakes in the last four or five matches of the team, the former soccer player said Diyarbakırspor wanted to protest such mistakes but their fans did not support them.
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