“Erzurumspor FK’s move to Gençlerbirliği sparks mixed reactions”
Gençlerbirliği Club President Niyazi Akdaş has responded to a message shared on social media by Erzurumspor FK after a match. Akdaş expressed his disappointment and disapproval of the unprofessional and baseless remarks made by Erzurumspor FK. He pointed out how his club has set an example for Turkish sports, having been associated with no wrongdoing since its inception.
Akdaş criticized the way Erzurumspor FK shared the visit of Turkish Football Federation President Mehmet Büyükekşi to Ankara. He stated that the visit was not only to his club, but also to the Super League, 1st League and 2nd League clubs operating in Ankara as part of the “Infrastructure Academies Project” to explain the significance of infrastructure to active Turkish clubs. Akdaş added that it was known publicly and that using the event as a cover-up for their own failures was unacceptable.
Akdaş emphasized that Gençlerbirliği has always believed that football is a sport played on the field, and that they will not be swayed by the injustices their community has faced this season. The club issued a public announcement in response to the social media message shared by Erzurumspor FK.
The private interests of clubs and their online behaviour are currently under scrutiny in Turkey, with the situation regularly sparking controversy and leading to disagreements between clubs. Many Turkish football fans hope the concerns of Gençlerbirliği Club are taken seriously and that the country’s football culture evolves beyond its superficial focus on social media.
