Footballers from Turkic States to Be Treated as Domestic Players

A new regulation on foreign player status is on the agenda in Turkish football. Kürşad Zorlu, Deputy Chairman of the AK Party and Head of Relations with Turkic States, announced that footballers from Turkic states will be treated as domestic players on a reciprocal basis.

Zorlu made the remarks at a press conference held at the AK Party headquarters ahead of the 13th Leaders' Summit of the Organization of Turkic States, to be held in Ankara on October 29-30. He said that the football federations of the Turkic states, which met last week under the hosting of the Turkish Football Federation, reached a joint decision on the matter.

Zorlu said that with the summit, footballers would be considered domestic rather than foreign, and that a football ecosystem would be built across the Turkic world. He added that cooperation would not be limited to player status. In this context, the "Turkic States Football Cup," planned to be held every two years, was also announced.

However, no detailed timeline has yet been shared on when the regulation will take effect, which leagues it will cover, or how it will be implemented. New statements on the issue are expected to become clearer after the summit.