Wrestling is one of the most important sports branches in Turkey. A change is expected in our country’s medal cache in the Olympic history after the great disappointment in Paris 2024.
However, the backstage before the general assembly of the Turkish Wrestling Federation (TGF) on November 9 is very complicated. Especially politicians attach great importance to this branch. There is a great conflict in the AKP-MHP-CHP triangle.
SÖZCÜ Sports; Taha Akgül discussed the developments that took place before the elective general assembly, where Selçuk Çebi and Tevfik Odabaşı were presidential candidates, and what was said behind the scenes.
TAHA AKGÜL IS YOUR FAVORITE BUT…
In the Main Statute of the Turkish Wrestling Federation, there is an article (8) stating that “salaried or salaried employees of the Federation and persons who have not stopped being active athletes, referees or coaches at least 1 year before the date of the general assembly, cannot be members of the general assembly.” Although it is said that Akgül cannot enter the race because of this article, the prevailing opinion is that “the candidate does not need to be a member of the general assembly.”
Akgül’s candidacy was opposed by Minister of Sports Osman Aşkın Bak; It is stated that Ankara, which includes ASKİ Spor, circulated the photo of CHP Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş kissing his hand in the AKP backstage and even showed it to President Erdoğan.
(This photo of Taha Akgül became political material. Akgül, who set out with Rıza Kayaalp and Yasemin Adar, announced that Mansur Yavaş also supported him at the meeting where he announced his candidacy.)
WHY WAS ATATURK REMOVED?
It is said that there is pressure on clubs close to the AKP to support Çebi.
It is not known why and by whom the Atatürk photo in TSYD Ankara Branch was removed at the meeting where Odabaşı announced his candidacy.
It is said that the current president Şeref Eroğlu is pressured by the MHP wing to “be a candidate” and that the former national wrestler will wait until October 28 and make his final decision, but will support Akgül.
EYES ON YERLIKAYA
President Erdoğan’s advisor Hamza Yerlikaya will play an active role in the election. However, there are different claims about which candidate Yerlikaya supported (Akgül or Çebi).
Upon allegations of irregularities in the delegate structure of the general assembly, the board headed by Hakan Bebek, Deputy General Manager of Sports Services, dismissed the federation as trustee; It will lead to elections postponed to December.
(Taha Akgul)
VOLLEYBALL IS MIXED TOO
The general assembly of the Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) will be held on Friday, October 18. Gökhan Dinçer surprisingly appeared as a candidate against the current president Mehmet Akif Üstündağ, who was expected to enter the election as the only candidate. Political strife also occurs in this federation. It is claimed that men’s teams, mostly from Eastern and Southeastern provinces, were pressured to “do not vote for Üstündağ”.
TRUSTEE FOR TWO FEDERATIONS
Trustees may manage the selection processes in the taekwondo (October 20) and boxing (November 12) federations. It was claimed that the Ministry of Youth and Sports decided to appoint trustees to both federations ‘due to irregularities’ in order to prevent the candidacies of the current presidents Metin Şahin and Eyüp Gözgeç.
