01.10.2025 23:00
Sakaryaspor's head coach Serhat Sütlü stated that he took responsibility for the foreign player rule error in the match against Sivasspor and submitted his resignation to the management, but it was not accepted.
The match played between Sakaryaspor and Özbelsan Sivasspor in the 8th week of Trendyol 1st League ended in a goalless draw.
ONLY 6 FOREIGN PLAYERS ARE ALLOWED
Sakaryaspor's head coach Serhat Sütlü fielded 7 foreign players in the second half with the substitutions he made. Sütlü, who assigned Jakup Szumski, Dimitrios Kolovetsios, Gael Kakuta, and Josip Vukoviç to the starting 11, later included Rijad Kobiljar, Umechi Akuazaoku, and Ben Yedder in the game. However, according to the regulations of the Turkish Football Federation, a maximum of 6 foreign players are allowed to be on the field at the same time in Trendyol 1st League. If the rule violation is reflected in the reports, Sakaryaspor could be declared the loser by 3-0.
''I AM ON DUTY BUT MY RESIGNATION IS READY''
After the events, Sakaryaspor's head coach Serhat Sütlü stated that he took responsibility and submitted his resignation to the board of directors, but it was not accepted. Sütlü said, "I took responsibility for the foreign player rule violation that occurred in recent days and submitted my resignation to our club. However, our board of directors did not accept this resignation. Due to the congress process that Sakaryaspor is going through, I will continue to be on duty at the request of our management. Additionally, I would like to inform the public that I have submitted my resignation letter dated October 12, 2025, to the management to pave the way for the new management that will come to duty. My top priority during this process is to ensure that our team's preparations on the field are not disrupted and to protect the interests of Sakaryaspor. As someone who was born, raised, and continues to live in Sakarya, I respectfully announce to the public that I will always prioritize the interests of our club over personal considerations," he stated.