Fenerbahce demand investigation into Turkish FA's ‘hostile statements' in alleged leaked WhatsApps

New York Times

18-06-2025

Fenerbahce have demanded the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) investigate after members of the association's disciplinary committee allegedly made 'hostile statements' about the club in leaked WhatsApp messages.
Fenerbahce allege that the messages between members of the TFF's Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK), which have not been verified by The Athletic, have sentiments of 'revenge' and 'clearly violate the principle of impartiality'.
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The club has written to the TFF calling for an investigation and subsequent disciplinary measures, arguing the leaked messages threaten the 'institutional reputation and public credibility' of the federation.
A Fenerbahce statement read: 'Our club has made an official application to the Turkish Football Federation in response to the correspondence that has been made public today and is claimed to belong to members of the Professional Football Disciplinary Board.
'We believe that this hostile mentality, which clearly violates the principle of impartiality and is based on showdowns and revenge, has no place in Turkish sports.'
The club's general secretary Burak Kizilhan's letter to the TFF continued: 'The fact that members of one of the most important boards responsible for establishing justice in Turkish football make such statements not only renders the concept of 'discipline' dysfunctional, but also constitutes a clear attack on the principles of impartiality and equality in sports.
'As Fenerbahce Sports Club, we will be following up on the issue and will continue our struggle for clean football until the end.'
The Athletic has contacted the TFF for comment.
Reports in the Turkish media indicated that PFDK president Celal Nuri Demirturk and other members of the board have resigned following the alleged leaks.
It marks the latest conflict between Fenerbahce and the TFF, after the club's head coach Jose Mourinho was banned for four matches and fined over £35,000 after comments he made towards the fourth official during February's Super Lig meeting with Galatasaray, and following the match about members of the Galatasaray squad.
Galatasaray accused Mourinho of making 'racist statements' and said they intended to initiate criminal proceedings against him, while he subsequently announced he was filing a lawsuit against the club for an 'attack on his personal rights'.