Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the use of sports as a medium for political rivalry, highlighting this point following the postponement of a key match between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray due to organizational issues.
Speaking at the Necip Fazil Awards Ceremony in Istanbul, Erdogan emphasized the negative impact of politicizing sports and advocated for Turkish sports to shine through achievements rather than controversies.
He called for a genuine commitment to the principles of fair play, peace, and cooperation in sports among all clubs.
The comments were made in the wake of the Turkish Super Cup final’s postponement, which was scheduled in Riyadh but delayed due to organizational challenges as announced by the Turkish Football Federation.
Additionally, Erdogan spoke about the Necip Fazil Awards Ceremony’s significance in preserving the legacy of Necip Fazil Kisakurek on his 40th death anniversary. He expressed satisfaction that young writers are engaging with Kisakurek’s intellectual heritage.
Erdogan also touched upon his government’s 21-year struggle against influences from the West and regions like Qandil and Pennsylvania, expressing confidence in overcoming these challenges.
He concluded by expressing optimism about the future of Turkey’s cultural and artistic climate.
The organizers of the Turkish Super Cup final said that the match scheduled for Friday in Saudi Arabia was cancelled because the teams didn’t adhere to match regulations.
“Presenting the sport without any slogans outside its scope” was especially discussed with the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) ahead of the match, a statement said.
“Despite this consensus, it was unfortunate that the two teams did not adhere to what had been agreed upon, which led to the match not being held,” it added.
