Istanbul: Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu announced on Tuesday that he has repeatedly declined requests to meet with the head of the Israeli Football Association in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
According to Anadolu Agency, Haciosmanoglu emphasized the strong ties between Turkey and Spain, highlighting their mutual concern over the Palestinian issue. He noted that Spain, a close ally in sports and politics, would have refused to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup had Israel been involved. “We have a very important friendship with Spain as a country, in sports, and in politics,” Haciosmanoglu stated. “When I see the Spanish Football Federation president (Rafael Louzan) from afar, I go and hug him. They are also very sensitive about the Palestinian issue.”
The TFF President firmly reiterated his stance against meeting Moshe Zuares, the Israeli Football Association President. He stated, “The President of the Israeli Football Association repeatedly wanted to meet w
ith me. I did not meet with him, and I will not. Where we need to react, we follow the lead of our President.”
Haciosmanoglu has been vocal in his criticism of Israel’s military actions, comparing the situation to the exclusion of Russia from international organizations. He highlighted the global community’s response to Israel’s actions, which he described as indiscriminate and affecting all demographics, including women, children, and religious sites. “They kicked Russia out of all organizations in a week. We see the world’s attitude towards these cruel people who eliminate people regardless of religion, language, race, sect, children, women, the elderly, schools, mosques, or churches,” he added.
In September, Haciosmanoglu took further action by sending a letter to FIFA, UEFA, and the heads of national football federations, urging them to ban Israel from international sporting events. The ongoing military offensive in Gaza has resulted in significant casualties, with more than 72,000 Palestinians, primari
ly women and children, killed and over 172,000 injured since October 2023.