Sertoğlu to stand down as KTFF president

CYPRUS Turkish Football Association (KTFF) president Hasan Sertoğlu has emotionally announced that he is to step down after eight years at the helm of the body.

Mr Sertoğlu gave a touching account of his time in office while addressing the association’s Central Referee Board.

“This is the last time I am addressing you from this podium,” he said. “I have been here for eight years and the progress made by the association is plainly evident. I have utmost trust that you will emerge from this difficult league with pride.” He received a standing ovation. Mr Sertoğlu is best remembered for the preliminary agreement he helped to reach at the Fifa head office in Zurich, Switzerland, in November 2013 for football to be united in Cyprus.

The document was signed by Mr Sertoğlu, Cyprus Football Association (CFA) president Costakis Koutsokoumnis, Fifa president Sepp Blatter and Uefa president Michel Platini. The agreement was never enforced, however, after deadlock was reached when Greek Cypriot officials demanded to see the international “registration” of the KTFF.

Mr Sertoğlu said, though, that “the real problem” was that the Greek Cypriot’s had refusal to play in stadiums in the North and against Turkish players in TRNC teams.

No exact date has been announced for Mr Sertoğlu to stand down.