Serdar Akcer, former FIFA Beach Soccer Referee, former FIFA Referee Instructor/Assessor and former Super League Assistant Referee, sent an open letter to FIFA and UEFA, following a public statement by the TFF President with respect to the promotion and appointment of Turkish referees by UEFA.
To the UEFA and FIFA Executive Committees and Referees Committees:
Today, in an interview with the official state news agency, Anadolu Agency, the President of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), Mr. İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, stated: "Normally, it takes four years to reach the 'Elite' referee category, but God willing, we will accelerate this process as much as possible through our personal friendly relations. We will see the results later. These brothers of ours will officiate in the next European Championship and the subsequent World Cup. If they cannot, you may hold me personally accountable." In light of these statements, I would like to pose the following questions:
- When determining UEFA referee categories, are the personal relationships of member federation presidents prioritized over objective performance criteria?
- Does the use of personal influence to bypass standard promotion timelines align with the UEFA Code of Ethics regarding neutrality and integrity?
- If the TFF President’s claim is accurate, does this not constitute a form of institutional corruption or a significant breach of sporting integrity?
- Halil Umut Meler, Turkey's only Elite referee, had not been assigned to any Champions League matches for most of the season, yet he was suddenly appointed to the Bayer Leverkusen vs. Arsenal match in the Round of 16. Was this appointment influenced by the aforementioned "friendly relations"?
- Are UEFA’s referee appointments for Turkish officials based strictly on technical performance metrics, or are they subject to political and personal lobbying?
- Will the end-of-season UEFA referee category reviews be influenced by the diplomatic ties claimed by the TFF President?
Source: Serdar Akcer
