Cizrespor, which competes in the second league of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), made the announcement on its social media accounts, pointing to injustices they have suffered at the hands of the TFF and the Turkish Central Referee Committee (MHK), "There is no longer a Cizrespor for you [to direct] your racist chants and slogans," Metin Kilavuz, chairman of Amedspor, the flagship team of Turkey’s southeastern province of Diyarbakit, which also has history of suffering from racism in the Turkish league, said.
In a written statement regarding their withdrawal, Kilavuz described the problems the team has faced, referring to racist slogans and anthems, comparing stadiums and footballers to arenas and gladiators.
When will conscientiousness and common sense give voice to this silent scream?’’ Kilavuz asked. "We invite the prejudiced to behave with conscientiousness and prudence, whatever little there may be," Kilavuz said.
The TFF made international headlines in 2018 when it issued an Amedspor player a life ban from playing in the country after he posted a video on social media, calling for people to attend a march in solidarity with Kurds in Afrin.
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