New rule for the 3rd League: Footballers react in front of the ministry

In May, the Turkish Football Federation ( TFF ) limited the number of players born in 2000 or before to five in the 2025-2026 season squads of 3rd League clubs.

Following the decision, the players expelled from their teams gathered in front of the Ministry of Youth and Sports (GSB) and made a press statement.

Last May, the Turkish Football Federation introduced a requirement for professional Third League clubs to issue licenses for a maximum of five football players born on or before December 31, 2000, starting from the 2025-2026 season.

With this regulation, most of the football players over the age of 25 in the 3rd league were left idle.

The players who were released from the game requested the TFF to reverse the decision, but received no response. Approximately 100 players held a press conference in front of the Ministry of Youth and Sports regarding the TFF's decision.

Speaking on behalf of the players, Yasin Palaz stated that he has been a professional footballer for 20 years, saying, “I am here representing my friends, from the youngest to the oldest. I am someone who strives to be their elder brother and guide them in the right way. Without consulting any professional footballers, coaches, or similar associations, a limit of five players over the age of 25 was imposed on players born in 2000 or before. This is a rule unlike any other in the world, and it was implemented here before in 2012, but it was completely abolished without any response. For some reason, they tried to reintroduce such a rule years later. We cannot accept this decision.”

"THE ACTORS WE APPLAUD ON TELEVISION ARE 40 YEARS OLD"

Palaz, noting that the rule was introduced to support young athletes, said, “The fact that they're supporting these young players, completely excluding the Super League , First League, and Second League, and starting with the lowest professional level of the leagues, the Third League, demonstrates the complete lack of logic. Neither the people here nor those who couldn't make it here accept that 14 foreign players are playing in the Super League, 8 in the First League, and no rules are in place in the Second League, while players aged 25 and over are being excluded from the Third League. Football has no age limit. The players we applaud on television are 40. While we applaud them so much, we don't want any age-related quotas in Turkish football. We don't want any changes related to this. We don't want any restrictions. We don't want to be a role model for footballing countries around the world and apply things that aren't implemented globally to Turkish athletes in our own country.”

"WE FEEL DISCOMFORT AND SAD ABOUT WALKING DOOR TO DOOR"

Palaz, noting that they had previously visited the TFF with a team of nearly 500 people, said, “We met with President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu and Vice President Mr. Odyakmaz. After explaining our concerns, making such requests, and being so respectful, we finally arrived at the Ministry of Sports, where Turkish athletes, under the Republic of Turkey and under the Turkish flag, come from. We are deeply disturbed and saddened by the fact that we are now going door to door, blatantly depriving people of their rights. We want this to be changed and revised as soon as possible, and for everyone to be happy to return to normal.”