2025 Sports Safety Workshop

The Sports Security Workshop was held from 22 to 24 July 2025 at the Hasan Doğan National Teams Training and Education Facility in Riva, operated by the Turkish Football Federation. The Ministry of Interior organized the event, with coordinated participation from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the General Directorate of Security, the Gendarmerie General Command, and the Turkish Football Federation. The event achieved high-level bureaucratic and sporting participation. Attendees included Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya, Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, TFF President İbrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu, and President of the Clubs Union Foundation Ali Koç, alongside chairmen and executives of clubs from the Süper Lig, 1st Lig, 2nd Lig, and 3rd Lig, as well as match security commanders from all 81 provinces. Additionally, directors of youth and sports provincial directorates from cities with teams in the Trendyol Süper Lig, along with senior representatives from the Security and Gendarmerie organizations, were present.

Participants (TFF)

Topics and Agenda Items

Law No. 6222 and the Legal Framework

Law No. 6222 on the Prevention of Violence and Disorder in Sports formed one of the central discussion points of the workshop. Minister Osman Aşkın Bak noted that the law has been revised multiple times since its enactment and stated that new regulatory proposals from clubs would be evaluated for submission to the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye.

Osman Aşkın Bak (Anadolu Agency)

Technological Investments and Monitoring Systems

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has purchased a total of 100 drones for use across all 81 provinces. These drones will be used to identify individuals with criminal records or who have received bans from football venues. It was also announced that individuals entering protocol tribunes will be registered through the Fan Card or electronic ticket system, with directives issued to provincial governorships to implement this measure.

Match Security and Risk Assessment Model

The Ministry of Interior has, for the first time, introduced an “AA” or “Very High Risk” category into its match security risk analysis system. To enhance field experience among Match Security Commanders assigned regularly at all stadiums, a policy has been initiated to assign the same personnel to the same stadiums. Provincial Sports Security Councils now convene directly under the chairmanship of governors, accelerating decision-making processes.

Club Demands and Economic Challenges

Ali Koç, President of the Clubs Union Foundation, highlighted the decline in clubs’ broadcasting revenues and emphasized that security service costs should at least partially be covered by the state within the framework of public responsibility. He called for a reassessment of this situation, particularly for clubs in Anatolia, in line with principles of social justice. It was also stressed that demands to increase away fan quotas to 30 percent must not be obstructed by security concerns.

Ali Koç (Anadolu Agency)

Emphasis on Moral Security in Sports Venues

Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya stated at the workshop that it is essential to establish not only physical security but also “moral security.” He emphasized the need to promote ethics, respect, and sportsmanship in sports, advocating an approach summarized by the statement: “True championship is not in lifting the trophy but in the moment of showing respect to the opponent.” He stressed that sport must serve as a unifying force rather than a divisive one, and that every individual who turns to violence must face both judicial and administrative sanctions.

Ali Yerlikaya (Anadolu Agency)

Calls for International Equity and UEFA Practices

Ali Koç noted that Turkish clubs participating in European competitions have faced discriminatory practices in certain countries, particularly in Belgium and the Netherlands, where away bans or stadium capacity restrictions are applied arbitrarily. These countries cite the removal of return legs in UEFA match formats as justification, but it is argued that they use security as a pretext to disadvantage Turkish fans. Therefore, it was proposed that similar practices based on the principle of reciprocity be evaluated in Türkiye.

Objectives and Final Messages

The primary objective of the Sports Security Workshop extended beyond coordinating security measures for the 2025–2026 season. The event served as a platform for discussing long-term strategies to ensure lasting peace and safety in sports venues across Türkiye. In this context, a permanent dialogue framework has been established between state authorities and the sports community, emphasizing that security is a shared responsibility among all stakeholders, not merely the domain of law enforcement. The goal of purifying sport from violence and polarization was adopted as a common framework throughout all discussions.

Institutional Memory and Previous Practices

The organization of this workshop directly referenced sports security programs implemented in 2019 through a collaboration between UEFA, the General Directorate of Security, and the TFF. Experiences gained during the adaptation of initiatives developed under the EPIC (Event Policing and International Cooperation) project to the Turkish context were reviewed in an updated format during this meeting. This facilitated knowledge exchange among national security actors and restructured the goal of alignment with European standards.

Field Data and Statistics

A total of 98,118 sporting events were held across Türkiye during the 2024–2025 season, with approximately 19 million people in attendance. In security operations, 1,088,546 police officers and 325,711 private security personnel were deployed. During inspections, legal proceedings were initiated against 6,818 individuals under Law No. 6222 in 510 matches. These statistics highlight the intensity of security efforts and the nature of incidents encountered.

İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu (TFF)

Structural Innovations and Proactive Measures

Significant structural transformations have been implemented in the field of sports security. First, Sports Security Branch Directorates have been established in all provinces across Türkiye. This structure has expanded institutional capacity and promoted specialization. Additionally, the Central Sports Security Board now convenes weekly to evaluate risk analyses submitted before matches. Measures to enhance route security have been strengthened to address incidents occurring outside stadiums, and rest facilities have been incorporated into the monitoring chain.

Civil Participation and Social Goals

One of the workshop’s ultimate goals is to positively shape the social impact of sport. The Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Youth and Sports have expressed their commitment to developing awareness campaigns aimed at increasing the safe participation of children, youth, women, and families in matches. Strengthening football’s unifying power and ensuring spectators experience safe and peaceful environments in stadiums are among the leading approaches guiding the social impact of the workshop. Within this framework, increasing spectator numbers has been adopted as a strategic objective alongside the prevention of violence.