31.08.2026 20:00
Kasımpaşa Technical Director Emre Belözoğlu said that the decision made regarding the foreign player rule is not very correct, stating, "I play Kerem Demirbay in the foreign status, while Galatasaray plays İlkay in the Turkish status."
Emre Belözoğlu, the head coach of Kasımpaşa, who drew 1-1 with RAMS Başakşehir in the 3rd week of the Trendyol Süper Lig, made statements about the foreign player rule.
''THE FOREIGN PLAYER RULE IS REALLY CHALLENGING US'' Emre Belözoğlu stated that they have 16 foreign players in their squad and that they have to part ways with 2 players due to the rule, saying, "We had a process with the camp we had set up for ourselves, but we have 4 injured players. Today, even though it's a very difficult decision, we will say goodbye to two of our existing foreign players. Neither the club nor I have such a desire, but this foreign player rule is really challenging us."
''I PLAY KEREM AS A FOREIGNER, G.SARAY...'' Noting that Kerem Demirbay is counted as a foreigner, the young coach cited Galatasaray player İlkay Gündoğan not being counted as a foreigner as an example, saying, "When choosing players, unfortunately, let's support our Turkish players, let's stand by them, but I think this rule should be somewhat relaxed and expanded. İlkay is also our brother, he plays at Galatasaray as a Turkish player. Kerem Demirbay's mother and father are also Turkish. Pure Turkish, in fact. When you look at him, he is Turkish at heart. He plays as a foreigner. We have to make some moves out of necessity. We will have to give up on players like Diabate, who came into the game today and contributed a lot to the team. We have 16 foreigners. The club invested in young players, we can't give up on them. Can't a player with a Turkish passport today choose the Macedonian National Team? Can't he choose the Kosovo National Team? If he chooses that, even though he has a Turkish passport, will he play as a foreigner? This is a rule simplified to such a basic level, a process dictated to clubs. I can't make sense of it. Those who manage the clubs, those who manage this federation. Why can't they come to a unity here, why can't they act together? Why is a player like Shomurodov... Haven't we been patrons to these people in this geography for years? Why doesn't he play as a Turkish player? While protecting Turkish players, don't those who make this decision realize that they have also built a process that makes them this lazy? I don't think it's a very correct decision. I play Kerem Demirbay as a foreigner, Galatasaray plays İlkay as a Turkish player. A date has been set, before and after 2015. What is this? What is this? Both of their fathers are Turkish, mothers are Turkish. Why are we going through such a process? Our other player brothers, those with Turkish passports, players who can't choose the national team. Today, can't they choose Macedonia? Aren't they our brothers too? Can't they choose Bosnia? Can't they choose Kosovo? If these players choose them, will they play as foreigners? I don't find it very correct. I went out to the match with the system and regulation I was forced into."