ANKARA (CIHAN) - Turkish Football Association (TFF) Deputy Chairman Orhan Saka announced on Sunday that acting Chairman Haluk Ulusoy would not run in the TFF chairmanship election to be held in July 22nd-23rd.
Ulusoy is expected to hold a press conference today to reveal his decision not to run for the chairmanship post. The TFF General Congress is scheduled to take place on July 22 and 23.
Ulusoy has been unpopular since last year when the Turkish National Football team failed to qualify for the recent 2004 Euro Championship. In addition, the big threes of Turkish Football, champions Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Besiktas issued an ultimatum to the TFF demanding an increased share in live broadcasting of the Turkish Superleague.
The pay-for-view Digiturk TV Company will sign an agreement today with the TFF to live broadcast matches for the next four years.
Haluk Ulusoy served as the TFF chairman for two terms starting in 1997. He was reelected in 2000. The Turkish National Football team had made it to the quarterfinals in Euro 2000 and finished 3rd in the 2002 World Cup under his chairmanship.
Now, two candidates, Levent Býcakcý, the vice-chairman of UEFA's Arbitration Committee, and Mehmet Ali Yilmaz will contest for the post in the upcoming election.