12.07.2026 23:20
Rize Athletic Sports Club, one of the Regional Amateur League (BAL) teams, decided to withdraw after the TFF demanded a participation fee of 2 million lira for the league.
Rize Athletic Sports Club, one of the Regional Amateur League (BAL) teams, has made a radical decision due to the participation fee of 2 million TL set by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) for the 2026-2027 season.
RİZE ATHLETIC SPORTS CLUB WITHDRAWS FROM THE LEAGUE Rize Athletic Sports Club announced its decision to withdraw from the league after the TFF demanded a participation fee of 2 million lira. In the official statement made by the Black Sea representative, it was emphasized that the TFF's high fee pushes amateur clubs, already facing financial difficulties, into an even more challenging situation. The club stated that they are watching the current economic conditions of the BAL, one of the cornerstones of Turkish football, with great concern.
Here is that statement:
As Rize Athletic Sports Club, we are following the current conditions of the Regional Amateur League, one of the important building blocks of Turkish football, and the economic burdens imposed on our clubs with great concern. The determination of the participation fee for the 2026-2027 season of the Regional Amateur League as 2,000,000 TL by the Turkish Football Federation has dragged BAL clubs, already struggling with serious financial impossibilities, into an even more difficult process instead of supporting them. We find it unacceptable for an entity that should take responsibility for the development of amateur sports, the survival of clubs, and the strengthening of regional football to increase the economic pressure on clubs. As Rize Athletic Sports Club, we announce to the public that we do not wish to be part of this unsustainable understanding, which is far from the realities faced by clubs. For this reason, we submit to the public's knowledge that we have decided not to participate in the Regional Amateur League organization for the 2026-2027 season.
ALTINORDU ALSO WITHDREW FROM THE LEAGUE Previously, TFF 2nd League team Altınordu also announced its decision to withdraw from the league. With this development, the number of teams withdrawing from the league in the last week has risen to 2.