FIFA President Gianni Infantino has welcomed the new President of the Turkish Football Association (TFF) to Paris, for constructive talks on a wide range of football development projects, challenges and opportunities. President Mehmet Büyükekşi, who was elected for a one-year term in June 2022, was joined by TFF Vice President Nüket Küçükel Ezberci and General Secretary Kadir Kardas, and sat down with Mr Infantino to provide an in-depth update on the strategy and vision the TFF will pursue, under the leadership of President Büyükekşi. President Infantino also received an update on the football development and infrastructure projects part-funded by FIFA Forward in Turkey, including the extension of the TFF Riva Facility – where the national teams train.

Speaking after the meeting, President Büyükekşi said: “We would like to thank Mr Infantino for welcoming us here. We talked about our potential collaboration with FIFA in the future, especially after the pandemic. A new era has begun. Fans, in particular, missed football so much. This was also the case in Turkey. What can we do to nurture our love of football together?” On the subject of the TFF’s strategy to encourage increased diversity among the match-going public in Turkey, President Büyükekşi added: “Our aim is to create an environment where the club presidents, players, coaches and fans in our country act in the spirit of fair play and show more respect for each other. So, this year our motto will be: ‘Football is friendship, peace and love.’ “We want women and children to come to the stadiums. We have discussed possible actions we could take in the culture and education sectors with the FIFA President. Women’s football is growing all around the world at the moment.” Finally, the two Presidents also discussed also discussed Turkish football’s continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic – with the help of the FIFA Covid Relief Plan – and the plans for its centenary year, which it will celebrate in 2023.