ANKARA - The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) which is a member of the National Football Board (NFB) that was formed by non-FIFA nations has applied to FIFA to play matches with teams of FIFA member nations.
TRNC Football Federation Chairman Omer Adal said on Wednesday that in their application to FIFA on May 1, 2004, they explained developments after the twin referenda in Cyprus on April 24 and requested FIFA to give permission again to TRNC clubs to play soccer matches with member nations' clubs, adding that they had conveyed the application also the Greek Cypriot side.
Noting that they had been given promise that their request would be discussed at FIFA Board meeting in October, Adal said, ''FIFA officials told us that their approach to our clubs' problems changed and they wished we should continue holding meetings with peaceful approach towards problems.''
Stressing that their long term target was to be a FIFA member, Adal said, ''if we reach this target, we leave NFB. We don't have the desire of playing under the NFB.''
Recalling that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan would present a report on Cyprus to the UN Security Council, Adal said, ''our path opens if this report includes lifting of isolation of Turkish Cypriots. Such a statement by the Security Council or the United Nations relieves also the relevant federations and FIFA Executive Board regarding our case.''
(MS-AÖ) 26.05.2004