Turkish businessman elected as new TFF boss

The Fenerbahce-affiliated businessman is the Turkish Football Federation’s new president.

Turkish businessman Nihat Ozdemir has been elected as the Turkish Football Federation’s (TFF) new president on Saturday, becoming the top boss of Turkish football.

Ozdemir, who was the only candidate running for the position, won the election which was conducted during the TFF’s General Assembly in Ankara.

Out of 214 delegates from the country’s professional football leagues, namely the Super Lig, second-division First League (1. Lig), the third-division TFF Second Football League (2.Lig) and the fourth-division TFF Third Football League (3.Lig), 183 cast their votes, and Ozdemir became the TFF’s 42nd president with 179 voting in his favour.

The presidency had been vacant since late February after the former president Yildirim Demiroren resigned in order to take over Turkey’s only legal sports betting company, Iddaa.

Ozdemir, reported to be the 12th richest person in Turkey for Forbes magazine with a net-worth of almost €2 billion, is not new to the Federation having served as the TFF’s Vice Chairman since 2014. The businessman has also been the Vice Chairman of Fenerbahce for several years as well as served on the Board of Directors for Ankaragucu.

During his speech after being elected as the TFF’s president, Ozdemir promised to take Turkish football to the next level.

“Justice and merit will be our basic principles,” he said in his victory speech, noting that he will serve as the organization’s president for four years.