Fenerbahce Must Look Ahead and Prepare for Denizli

With the frustration and anger of the disappointing loss behind them, Fenerbahce must now look ahead and focus on the task ahead. There will be no Fortis Turkish Cup this year, but the Turkcell Super Lig is still in reach and Fener controls their own destiny. Zico and his staff have a difficult task of seeing how the players will respond to the BJK loss. Will they sulk and continue with the frustration of the horrendous officiating? Will they become even more motivated to win the Super Lig and prove that the Turkish Futbol Federation cannot stop them? We will know on Sunday.

The Denizlispor Roosters visit Sukru Saracoglu Stadium at 19:00 on Sunday (12 Noon EST in the U.S.). Besiktas is the only other game on Sunday. The Black Eagles and their toilet-destroying fans travel to Sivas on Sunday. Kickoff for that game is 15:00 (8 AM EST in the U.S.). With the derby between Fenerbahce and Besiktas coming up next week, points are crucial for both sides this weekend.

Club Reiterates No Interest in Roberto Carlos

Fenerbahce reaffirmed their previous statement on Friday that they have no interest in Real Madrid's Roberto Carlos. The club issued an official statement, saying "Today it was rumoured that Roberto Carlos has signed a contract with Fenerbahce. We want to stress that this rumor is completely false and our club is not interested in Roberto Carlos right now."

The Travesty That Is Turkish Futbol

A couple of years ago, after my travels to Turkiye and making numerous Turkish friends, I began watching as much Turkish futbol as I could (despite knowing NO Turkish at the time). I had friends that were Besiktas, Galatasaray, and Fenerbahce fans, and I decided that I liked what I had learned about Fenerbahce and their players. Shortly after, I began following Fener and decided they would be the team I supported. However, I was forewarned about being a Fenerbahce fan. Fenerbahce fans told me "Just so you know, there has been a conspiracy for quite some time against Fener from the Turkish Futbol Federation. The president's name is Haluk Ulusoy, and he is the biggest Galatasaray fan in the world." As a fan of some American sports, I hear similar claims all the time, so I brushed it off. However, after talking to some of my Besiktas and Galatasaray friends, I began to hear the same things. "Fenerbahce will never win because of Ulusoy." "Fener has three opponents for every game - the other team, the referees, and the TFF." I thought it was strange that I was hearing this from fans of BJK and GS; people who hated Fenerbahce adamantly. Still, I didn't think much of it. Every sports fan thinks there is a conspiracy against their team.

So, here I am - two years later, and I'm starting to see that what I was told is in fact correct. I had held off making that claim for as long as I could, but I cannot hold it in any longer. Yes, the Turkish Futbol Federation does hate Fenerbahce. Yes, to some degree, there is some sort of effort put against them to hold them down. Is it the sole reason for Fenerbahce's complacency on the pitch? No, ofcourse not, but has it cost Fenerbahce some wins? Absolutely. Yesterday was the final straw. Fenerbahce dominated Besiktas, just like they did at Inonu Stadium a couple of weeks earlier. Yet Fenerbahce is going home while Besiktas advances. Yes, Fenerbahce should have scored at least two more goals, especially with the way they dominated the Black Eagles. But the double standard of Turkish futbol is out of control. A foul is a foul, and a penalty is a penalty. Kicking another player, the last time I checked, is a penalty. Yet while Tuncay Sanli is home today putting ice on his leg and taking pain killers, Baki Mercimek is going to play for the Fortis Turkish Cup. What Mercimek did to Tuncay should have warranted an automatic red card. But conveniently, the Ulusoy-assigned referees didn't see it that way.

This wasn't the only discrepancy in Thursday's game, ofcourse. Referees tend to look the other way when Fenerbahce's opponents make a threatening tackle attempt from behind, pull a player down on a corner kick, or score a goal in a clearly offsides position. However, if Diego Lugano sneezes, the card comes out immediately.

So, why is there such an effort against Fenerbahce? If you are the head of the governing body of national futbol, one would expect you to look out for the best interests of your nation and your league. So, with that being said, typically you would want the team with the best chance to make noise in European competition to win the league, right? Don't get me wrong, Fenerbahce isn't exactly playing UEFA Champions League winning futbol at the moment. But as bad as Fener has looked at times, they have still looked better than Besiktas and Galatasaray. Fener is the nation's wealthiest club, the one with the largest fan base, and arguably, the most respected club outside of Turkiye. Despite the fact that they have inarguably underachieved all season, the team still has the most talent of any club in Turkiye. So, as the leader of the federation, wouldn't you want this team to do well, qualify for UEFA Champions League, and actually have a chance to make a run and show the world that the Turkish league is not a pushover?

There is ofcourse, another angle at a possible conspiracy. Most futbol fans outside of Turkiye don't respect the Turkcell Super Lig. They think it's always Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, Besiktas, and a bunch of other bad teams. Nevermind the fact that the same could be said for the EPL, Dutch league, French league, etc., but that's another story. So, one could take the angle that to gain respect, another of the "non-Istanbul teams" needs to win and move on in Euro competition. Would the league get more respect if Kayserispor or Rizespor or Genclerbirligi or even Trabzonspor won the Super Lig and played in the Champions League? It's possible.

The problem is that the conspiracy against Fenerbahce does not have any logic. Ok, so Haluk Ulusoy, the president of the Turkish Futbol Federation is a Galatasaray fan. It's difficult to remain unbiased in sports, but when you are president of a governing body, you have to act in the best interest of your nation. Ulusoy is setting Turkiye up to be a laughing stock on the world futbol stage. I believe Fenerbahce will play good (but not great) futbol in the final five Super Lig games of the season. I believe they will play good enough to win all five games. But they will not. Besiktas will win the Super Lig. Then Besiktas, the champion of Turkiye, will go to the UEFA Champions League and be quickly eliminated. Yes, I realize Fener, if finishing outside of the top spot, could also qualify. Afterwards, Turkiye will again be viewed as a second-tier league; just a stop on the road to European stardom for its best players.

One of the reasons I became a Fenerbahce fan was first, their fans. To this day, some of my closest friends are Besiktas and Galatasaray fans. Both of those teams have tremendous fans who should be applauded. But they also have a great deal of......how shall I say....people looking for trouble. On my travels to Turkiye and my conversations with other fans, I heard a lot of BJK and GS fans complain about Fener and make threatening comments. Ofcourse, Fenerbahce has some of those fans as well, but I have encountered a lot fewer of them. One of the other reasons I became a Fenerbahce fan was their potential. I knew Galatasaray had won the UEFA Cup, and I knew that Fener's European success was less than stellar. But I saw Sukru Saracoglu Stadium (post-expansion). It was as beautiful and grand as any stadium I've ever seen, in any sport, on any continent. I began learning of the wealth and prestige that Fenerbahce had in the club. I saw that while many teams were trying to sign whomever would play for them, Fenerbahce was legitimately trying to sign the best players in Europe and South America. When people in other parts of Europe and America asked who my team was and I responded by saying Fenerbahce, people immediately said great things about them. "I loved Hooijdonk." "Revivo was fun to watch." "Rustu Recber is one of the most underrated goalkeepers in Europe." I was impressed that Fenerbahce seemed well-respected outside of Turkiye.

As I learned about teams like Arsenal, AC Milan, even Real Madrid, I realized that none of those teams have been great forever. Arsenal was downright terrible not so long ago. But they had great facilities, money, respect, and they played in Europe. All of the things that Fenerbahce has. They also have one other thing that helps them success - fair referees and a national governing body that wants to send their best teams, under fair play, to play in UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup. Yesterday's travesty at Sukru Saracoglu proved that this is something that Fenerbahce, and Turkish futbol fans, are sorely lacking.

Season of Torment Continues as Besiktas Advances

The 100th year of Fenerbahce was supposed to be a memorable one; a season for the ages filled with glory and awards. Instead, it is turning out to be one that Fener fans will want to forget. The season of torment continued today as Besiktas advanced past Fenerbahce on 2-1 aggregate to move to the Fortis Turkish Cup final. Fenerbahce allowed a late goal from former Yellow Canary Marcio "Mert" Nobre only minutes before the end of the first stoppage time.

The last time that Fenerbahce put together a true offensive show was in October, with a 4-1 victory over Kayserispor. It gave Fener fans a glimmer of hope, believing this high-powered offensive team was finally coming to life. Since that game, Fenerbahce has sunk into an offensive abyss, barely able to score a goal. That trend continued today although they were playing in front of a raucous crowd ready to cheer on their side. Despite having the goal-scoring tandem of Tuncay Sanli, Mateja Kezman, Semih Senturk, Marco Aurelio, and Alex de Souza, the Canaries could only find one goal from former Black Eagle Tumer Metin. His goal early in the second half gave Fener fans hope, but their hearts sank as former Fenerbahce standout Marcio Nobre put BJK in tremendous position with his goal in extra time.

The drought of Fortis Turkish Cup-less seasons continues as Besiktas will move on to play surprising Kayseri Erciyesspor in the final. Fenerbahce has not won the cup since 1983, and for the first time in three years fails to even make the final game. Fenerbahce today received yellow cards from Onder Turaci, Marco Aurelio, Tumer Metin, and Diego Lugano. Lugano also picked up his second yellow card moments before the final whistle, resulting in an automatic red card.

Fenerbahce must now figure out a way to put the devastating loss behind them and get ready for visitors Denizlispor this weekend in Kadikoy. The immense pressure on Fenerbahce is only escalated now as they must win their final five games and hold off Besiktas from taking another title from the Canaries.

Fenerbahce vs. Besiktas Underway

Fenerbahce vs. Besiktas is now underway from Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Kadikoy. The starting lineups are as follows:

FENERBAHÇE: Serdar, Ümit, Kezman, Tuncay, Tümer, Aurelio, Önder, Alex, Deniz, Lugano, Edu

BESIKTAS: Runje, Nobre, Mustafa, Serdar, Baki, Toraman, Zan, Uzulmez, Barak, Delgado, Ricardinho

Fenerbahce Looking to Regain Confidence in Kadikoy

This season was supposed to be a special season for Canary fans. 2007 marks the club's 100th year in existence, and lots of new talent was brought in to boost Fenerbahce to European success, a 17th Super Lig title, a Fortis Turkish Cup Championship and more. However, 2007 hasn't gone quite as planned. Fener failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League and advanced past the group stage of the UEFA Cup, but could not get past AZ Alkmaar to achieve their dream of winning the cup. While Fenerbahce currently sits in first place in the Turkcell Super Lig, the players are feeling the pressure put on them by fans, the Turkish media, and the club's board. High-priced talent hasn't produced as many goals as hoped for, and the jury is still out on the performance of first year manager Zico. Players like Deivid de Souza and Edu Dracena haven't made the impact the club hoped for, and Diego Lugano, Tuncay Sanli, and Stephen Appiah have been linked to other European clubs during the upcoming offseason. Add in that many of the contracts of Fener's players expire at the end of this season, and there is plenty on the minds of Fenerbahce fans these days.

It's been a staggering 24 years since Fenerbahce last won the Fortis Turkish Cup; an astounding stat considering Fener is the largest and most powerful club in Turkiye. The last two years have brought heartache in the cup's final game, with losses to arch-rivals Besiktas and Galatasaray. Now Fenerbahce finds themselves in a hole, but not one they can't dig out of. They go into Thursday's game with a 1-0 aggregate deficit, but they know they will be playing before the largest and most vocal home crowd in Turkish futbol. The Canaries haven't been playing spectacular futbol, but many of the club's goals are still intact. They can still win the Fortis Turkish Cup. They can still win the Turkcell Super Lig, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. Even more, Fenerbahce's destiny is in their own hands when it comes to winning the Super Lig. Up by only four points with five games left, the team has one simple motto: just win. Win the final five games, and they cruise into a 17th championship and UEFA Champions League. However, that goal is easier said than done. Those final five games are against the league's best: at home vs. Denizlispor, a team fighting to avoid relegation. Then the game everyone has been talking about: Fener vs. Besiktas at Inonu Stadium. This game could decide the title all by itself. Fener then returns home to take on the always-dangerous Trabzonspor, before going across the Bosphorous to play Galatasaray in the world's biggest derby. They wrap up the season in Kadikoy on May 26 vs. Ankaragucu. Five games left....four points up, but the road is difficult.

Fenerbahce still has a chance to meet many of their goals, and the first task starts Thursday in Kadikoy. Kickoff is at 20:00 (1 PM EST in the U.S.).

Zico: "I Don't Think I'll Be Staying In Turkiye Long"

Speaking to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Fenerbahce manager Arthur Zico stated "I don't think I'll be staying (here in Turkiye) for long." When referring to Fenerbahce's gigantic fan base and the pressure of the Fener managerial job, he said "It's not an easy task at all, working for a club this popular; nevertheless, I'm happy."

Speaking of his future in Kadikoy, Zico said "I've got a two-year contract, but I know very well that if the Canaries do not win the championship this season, they will not approve of my stay here. (Sporting) Lisbon is my dream team as far as coaching goes. When I was a little boy, my father and I used to listen to Sporting Lisbon games over the radio."

Zico spoke highly of Fenerbahce in the interview, calling it Turkiye's largest and most important club. However, he obviously senses the pressure to win a Super Lig Championship or risk losing his job.

Photos from Fenerbahce vs. Gaziantepspor

photos courtesy of www.fenerbahce.org

Fenerbahce Defeats Gaziantepspor 2-0

Fenerbahce took the next step toward their 17th Turkcell Super Lig championship on Friday with a 2-0 win at Gaziantep. Alex de Souza scored the first Fener goal on a penalty at the 30 minute mark. The teams went into the half with a 1-0 score, but 12 minutes after the break, Tuncay Sanli found the back of the net (57') and put the game securely in the hands of the Yellow Canaries. The defense, along with GK Serdar, preserved the clean sheet and a precious three points. Umit Ozat picked up a yellow card for Fenerbahce (28').

With the win, Fener now sits seven points up on second place Besiktas with only five Super Lig games remaining. Besiktas hosts Antalyaspor on Saturday at 19:00 (12 Noon EST in the U.S.). The pressure now shifts abruptly to BJK, who must pick up three points to stay in the race. Additionally, Besiktas will start a 17-year-old in goal tomorrow following Runje's not-as-lengthy-as-it-should-be suspension and an injury to his backup. Antalyaspor currently sits in the 10th spot in the league with 37 points. However, only four points separate them from Sivasspor in the fifth spot. Third place Galatasaray will host Caykur Rizespor on Sunday.

Edu's Penalty Reduced

The Turkish Futbol Federation reduced the penalty of Edu Dracena in a ruling by the disciplinary committee on Thursday. Edu, who had been suspended for three games, had his suspension reduced to two games. Dracena will be available for today's game at Gaziantepspor.

TFF Rules Runje "Conveniently" Available for Fener Game

The Turkish Futbol Federation has reduced the suspension of Besiktas goalkeeper Vedran Runjue to only one game, meaning he will now be available for the Fortis Turkish Cup second leg against Fenerbahce next week in Kadikoy. Runje had been suspended by the TFF for two games following his explosive behavior last week on the pitch vs. Sakaryaspor. Runje made an obscene gesture toward the Sakarya fans, resulting in the two-game suspension. Besiktas officials applied for arbitration and requested a court hearing, after which the disciplinary committee of the TFF reduced the ban to only one game, "conveniently" coinciding with his return against Fenerbahce next week. Added to the mystery is that, like Fenerbahce, Besiktas is down to their third goalkeeper tomorrow, a 17-year-old in goal after an injury to the backup. Unlike Fenerbahce though, Besiktas is already making excuses and crying about the situation. Fenerbahce has been on goalkeeper number three for much of the season, yet continues to keep their mouths shut and play futbol, leading the Turkcell Super Lig.

Is the TFF decision just another effort to keep Fenerbahce from success? We can't say for sure, but to the outsider it appears that the TFF is doing everything in its power to keep Fenerbahce from winning a 17th Turkcell Super Lig championship this year.

Turkiye Jumps to #17 In Latest FIFA World Rankings

Turkiye jumped ten spots to #17 in the latest FIFA World Rankings released on Wednesday. They were one of the biggest movers of the new rankings, along with Russia who jumped seven spots to #16. The boost comes off of an impressive Turkish victory over Greece and a draw against Norway. Turkiye currently sits atop their group in Euro 2008 qualifying. They return to action again in June.

Italy maintained the top spot, and Greece fell two spots to #15 after their home thrashing against their rivals. England fell two spots to #8 after their recent struggles under new manager Steve McClaren. Mexico jumped three spots up to #18, right behind Turkiye. Cameroon also made a big jump, up five spots to #13.

Fenerbahce Arrives in Gaziantep

Fenerbahce arrived in Gaziantep Thursday afternoon, one day ahead of their crucial Turkcell Super Lig matchup vs. Gaziantepspor. After three consecutive winless games, Fenerbahce desperately needs three points on Friday to keep distance between themselves and second-place Besiktas at the top of the standings.

Gaziantepspor, on the other hand, is still trying to keep distance between themselves and the relegation zone. They currently sit in 13th place with 35 points and appear to be safe, but the middle of the Turkcell Super Lig has very little spacing between each team. Gaziantepspor is also under the added pressure of being the only Super Lig team now from the Southeastern Turkiye area. The Turkish Futbol Federation wants to make sure they are not dropping down and leaving the region without a Super Lig team.

Kickoff for Friday's game is at 20:00 (1 PM EST in the U.S.) from Kamil Ocak Stadium in Gaziantep.

Appiah Will Miss Gaziantepspor Game

Fenerbahce will again be without the services of midfielder Stephen Appiah when the team plays Gaziantepspor tomorrow. Appiah, who has missed several games due to injury, is still not completely healed but is progressing. Zico, however, said that Appiah will not play tomorrow in Gaziantep. The team hopes to have him back for next week's crucial second leg of the Fortis Turkish Cup vs. Besiktas in Kadikoy.

Opportunity Wasted: Fener, Manisa End Scoreless

Heading into Sunday's game, Fenerbahce knew they had a tremendous opportunity to move six points up in the Turkcell Super Lig following Besiktas's draw on Saturday. Instead, Fener played tentative, uninspired futbol resulting in a 0-0 draw and their second consecutive scoreless affair. The draw with Vestel Manisaspor keeps Fenerbahce only four points up on second place Besiktas.

Fener manager Zico has been feeling the heat for most of the season, but the lack of his scoring and his one-forward approach has critics slamming him for Fener's mediocre performances of late. Late in the game, Canary fans began chanting "Yönetim istifa, Zico istifa" (Management resign, Zico resign)" as the team couldn't muster a goal.

Vestel Manisaspor came into the game with the second-worst defense in the Turkcell Super Lig, allowing 42 goals in 28 games so far this year. Fenerbahce, back at home in Kadikoy, was expected to put goals on the board, especially with much of the squad healthy and available. Nothing worked, however, and Zico shifted from his one-forward approach late in the game, substituting in Deivid de Souza, Tumer Metin, and Semih Senturk. It would not matter though, as Fener failed to score a goal yet again. It was Fenerbahce's third consecutive game without a win.

After the game, Zico spoke to the media, saying "Our opponents aim throughout the game was not to let us play. My players were under pressure and they hurried things. The hastiness of the players, caused by their desire to land the title and take on leadership responsibilities, brought about simple mistakes. We should overcome the pressure.”

Regarding the fans chanting for him to resign, Zico stated “Those who love Fenerbahçe must think twice; the players are the ones to take us to the top, they deserve support. They want to achieve this as well and as their coach, I have 100 percent confidence in them. The supporters may protest; this was not the first time and it will not be the last. In futbol, you survive as long as you are good. I think that I do the right things at the right time. I am responsible for my job and I try to pass on everything I know to the team.”

When asked about the failure to capitalize on Besiktas's draw on Saturday, Zico commented that “They wanted to win too,” he continued, “people think that Fenerbahçe stands unopposed. We play 11 against 11 on the pitch and every team we play against has its own objective. Football needs giving it you all on the pitch, you do not win a game before kickoff.”

Fenerbahce must now travel to Gaziantep in Southeast Turkiye this weekend to take on Gaziantepspor. Kickoff is scheduled for Friday, April 20, at 20:00 (1 PM EST in the U.S.).

Opportunity Knocks: BJK, Sakarya Finish 1-1

Besiktas and last place and soon-to-be-relegated Sakaryaspor finished in a 1-1 draw earlier today in Sakarya. The game was a head-scratcher, as Sakaryaspor seemingly had little to play for in terms of motivation, while Besiktas has everything to play for. With only 20 points on the season, Sakarya is the only Turkcell Super Lig team that has nearly clinched a relegation spot. The draw puts BJK only three points behind Fenerbahce, but Fener has a golden opportunity on Sunday. With only six games remaining after this weekend, time is running out for Besiktas to catch the Canaries. Should Fenerbahce defeat Vestel Manisaspor on Sunday in Kadikoy, they would move six points up on BJK. Neither team can afford to drop points in the remaining six games, but should one of them do so, the other must certainly take advantage of it. The Fenerbahce vs. Vestel Manisaspor match now becomes an absolute "must win" for the Yellow Canaries if they hope to avoid the same fate as last season and lock up their 17th Turkcell Super Lig Championship.

Fenerbahce Prepares for Vestel Manisaspor

With the 1-0 loss to rivals Besiktas still lingering in their minds, Fenerbahce now prepares to resume Turkcell Super Lig action on Sunday when Vestel Manisapsor comes to Kadikoy. On paper, the game appears to be an easy win for Fener, but just as Fener is fighting to stay atop the standings, Manisa is battling to stay in the Super Lig at all.

Vestel Manisaspor currently sits in 14th place with 32 points. Sakaryaspor is headed for relegation, but the other two spots are still being determined. Despite being in 14th place, Manisa is only seven points shy of 5th place. There is very little separation in the middle of the league, and all of the teams will be fighting for positioning as the season winds down.

It's an understatement to say that Fenerbahce needs three points on Sunday, but this fact is made even more important because Besiktas will travel to last place Sakaryaspor. On paper it seems that BJK is guaranteed three points after the weekend. Fenerbahce has their fate in their own hands, but despite only having seven remaining games, Besiktas, Galatasaray, and Trabzonspor all await the Yellow Canaries on the schedule. Every game from here out becomes a must win for the Sari Lacivert.

Friday's lone game features Genclerbirligi and suddenly out-of-the-picture Galatasaray. While GS is statistically still alive for the title, being ten points behind Fener does not look good for the Lions. Besiktas vs. Sakaryaspor is Saturday's only game, with the rest of the league in action on Sunday.

Fenerbahce and Vestel Manisaspor kick-off from Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Kadikoy at 19:00 (12 Noon EST in the U.S.) on Sunday.

Is Rigobert Song in Fenerbahce's Plans?

Rumors are beginning to circulate in Istanbul that Galatasaray halfback Rigobert Song may be crossing the Bosphorous at the end of this season and joining rivals Fenerbahce. The 30-year-old Cameroon native played for Lens, Liverpool, West Ham United, and Koln before joining the Galatasaray Lions in 2004. He played for Cameroon in the 1994, 1998, and 2002 World Cups. He is the most capped player in Cameroon history, with 103 international appearances.

Song has spent much of this season in the doghouse at Galatasaray after a public feud with Manager Eric Gerets during a game. Could Song join the Sari Lacivert after this season? Stay tuned for more details.

Profile of Real Madrid's Emerson

Profile of Emerson Ferreira da Rosa, courtesy of RealMadrid.com:

Career:

With Emerson Ferreira Da Rosa, Real Madrid has won a superb field marshal. Serious in defense and with tenacious ball-winning skills, he also knows how and when to play the ball with short or drive passes, depending on the circumstances. He displays great energy and stamina, traits typical of the archetypal industrious midfielder, but he also likes to push forward and has a considerable and powerful mid-range shot, thus scoring a good number of goals for a defensive midfielder.

Emerson is a product of the youth system of Gremio de Porto Alegre, with whom he won the Libertadores Cup, the South American Champions League, in 1995. It was the step prior to his European leap in 1997. His first team there was Bayer Leverkusen. His performances in the Bundesliga as defensive midfielder did not go unnoticed in the Italian Calcio. His tactical abilities urged Roma and Fabio Capello to sign him in 2000, winning the Scudetto that same season, in 2001. The Italian manager left the Roman club for Juventus, as did Emerson, who also landed in Turin, where he would again win another two Serie A titles in 2005 and 2006, although the Vecchia Signora has been stripped of these last League title following the ‘Moggigate’ scandal.

Track Record:
1 Libertadores Cup (Grêmio, 1995)
2 Italian Scudettos (Roma, 2001 & Juventus, 2005)
1 Confederations Cup (Brazil, 2005)

Curious Facts:
Emerson has been a fixture in the starting line-ups of the different national managers of Brazil. His biggest achievement to date with the ‘Canarinha’ was the 2005 Confederations Cup. Still, Emerson has bittersweet memories with his national team. In 2002, he missed the Korea & Japan World Cup after injuring his shoulder when he was acting as goalkeeper during a training session. He has never done that again.

For a few years now, Emerson is known to the fans and to the press as ‘The Puma’. His teammates at Real Madrid have already started using this nickname to address the new signing during trainings.

Is Lugano Headed to Real Madrid for Emerson?

Less than a year after signing with Fenerbahce, is Uruguayan star Diego Lugano headed to Real Madrid in exchange for Brazilian Emerson Ferreira da Rosa? Speculation is that Real Madrid is poised to offer 10 Million Euro for Diego Lugano, as well as midfielder Emerson. The Brazilian star just turned 30 last week and could be moving to Turkiye at the end of the year. Nicknamed "The Puma," Emerson formerly played for AS Roma, Bayer Leverkusen, and Juventus. He's also been a member of the Brazilian National Side since 1997. He was the original captain for Brazil's 2002 World Cup squad before suffering an injury.

Lugano came to Fener prior to the 2006-2007 season. He's been a useful defender in the back, but rumors of his departure from Kadikoy have been rapidly circulating over the last two months. His possible move to Real Madrid has also been mentioned with the import of Real Madrid's Roberto Carlos to Fenerbahce.

Zico Comments Following Fener's 1-0 Loss

Fenerbahce manager Zico met with the press following Wednesday's 1-0 loss to Besiktas in the Fortis Turkish Cup semifinals.

"Besiktas only won the first half of the 180 minutes. We will play the second half in our own stadium. TodayBesiktas scored a goal although we did not play poorly. Besiktas used their chances well today. I feel like my team fought from the very first minute until the last. The score could have been very different, if we had better used our chances. Now we will concentrate on the second match. This score does not bother me now. Everything can change in the second match at Sukru Sarcoglu."

Zico was without the services of Stephen Appiah due to his injury, but also noticeably absent from the lineup was Mateja Kezman and Alex de Souza. Was there a violation of team rules? Zico commented, saying "Appiah was injured but it was my decision not to let Alex and Kezman play. Appiah suffers from a knee injury, and we did not want to risk such an important footballer just for this game. Alex and Kezman were substitutes because I decided to go that direction. I told to Alex that I do not want him to be tired in this critical period."

Regarding Tumer Metin's first appearance at BJK Inonu Stadium since leaving Besiktas for Fenerbahce after last season, Zico stated "Tumer came from a big Turkish team to another big Turkish team. It’s not easy and it proves his quality. Tumer felt under pressure of the Besiktas fans in the beginning and made some mistakes. After that, his performance was good. You don’t need to motivate a player like Tumer who also plays for the National Team. He is a great player and I’m satisfied with his performance tonight."

Fenerbahce and Besiktas will square off in the second leg of the Fortis Turkish Cup on April 26 at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Kadikoy.

More Photos from the Fortis Turkish Cup

Photos from the Fortis Turkish Cup

Photos from Wednesday's Fortis Turkish Cup 1-0 loss to Besiktas.

Fenerbahce Falls to Besiktas 1-0

In the first leg of the Fortis Turkish Cup semifinals, Fenerbahce fell 1-0 to Besiktas on the road. The lone goal of the game came from Bobo da Silva in the 82nd minute, and Fenerbahce could not equalize in the final moments. The score puts BJK ahead 1-0 on aggregate, but Fenerbahce still has a tremendous opportunity to advance as the series heads to Kadikoy.

Serkan Balci (19), Tumer Metin (63), and Diego Lugano (65) each picked up a yellow card for Fenerbahce. Mustafa Dogan (28), Emilio Delgado (89), and former Yellow Canary Marcio "Mert" Nobre (70) received yellow cards for Besiktas.

The second leg of the semifinal will be played two weeks from tomorrow on April 26 at Sukru Saracoglu in Kadikoy. Please check back for more statistics, photos, and reaction from today's game.

Fenerbahce vs. Besiktas Underway

Fenerbahce vs. Besiktas is underway from Inonu Stadium in Istanbul. Fenerbahce's starting eleven is Serdar, Ümit, Tuncay, Tümer, Aurelio, Önder, Semih, Deniz, Serkan, Lugano, and Deivid

Fenerbahce: The World's Most Fanatical Fans

I was doing some web surfing this morning and found a post about the world's most fanatical fans and it referred to us, the Fenerbahce Cumhuriyeti. The blogger, Sebastian, posted some great videos to back up his point! Please visit his blog and check them out - http://www.sebyzzzimediablogs.blogspot.com/2007/04/worlds-most-fanatic-fans-fenerbahce.html

Erciyesspor Defeats Trabzonspor in Fortis Turkish Cup

Kayseri Erciyesspor took the first step in Fortis Turkish Cup final qualifying today, as they beat Trabzonspor 1-0 in Trabzon. Zdravko Ivanov Lazarov found the back of the net for Erciyesspor in the 80th minute, and it was all they needed as their defense preserved the clean sheet and a crucial away goal that could mean a trip to the final if they can hold steady in the second leg.

Fenerbahce and Besiktas face off today at 20:00 (1 PM EST in the U.S.) at BJK Inonu Stadium on the European side of Istanbul. The game will feature a number of story lines, along with the fact that Fenerbahce currently sits in first place in the Turkcell Super Lig, with second place Besiktas only four points behind. Additionally, the two chairmen of the clubs have been bantering back and forth for the last week after each making statements regarding their club's finish down the stretch. Adding to the mix, Fenerbahce scoring threat Tumer Metin will play his first game back at Inonu Stadium since leaving the Black Eagles last season. Metin had two goals for Besiktas in their win over Fenerbahce last year, including the game-winner in stoppage time.

The second leg of the Trabzonspor vs. Kayseri Erciyesspor match will be played on April 25 at 20:00 (1 PM EST in the U.S.) at Ataturk Stadium in Kayseri. The second leg of the Fenerbahce vs. Besiktas match will be played on April 26 at 20:00 (1 PM EST in the U.S.) at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Kadikoy.

Fortis Turkish Cup Resumes This Week

The Fortis Turkish Cup resumes this week, with the field narrowed down to the final four teams - Fenerbahce, Besiktas, Trabzonspor, and Erciyesspor. The semi-finals of the cup will take place this Wednesday, April 11th. The first game features Trabzonspor and Erciyesspor at 16:00 (9 AM EST in the U.S.) and the much-anticipated second matchup between Fenerbahce and Besiktas at 20:00 (1 PM EST in the U.S.). The second game features longtime rivals and the top two leaders in the Turkcell Super Lig. The game will be played at Inonu Stadium, home to the Besiktas Black Eagles.

After elimination from the UEFA Cup, Fenerbahce has their eyes set on a Fortis Turkish Cup Championship and a Turkcell Super Lig Title. To advance, they'll have to beat BJK on their home pitch, in what is expected to be one of the best matchups of the season. The two teams met in Super Lig action in November at Sukru Saracoglu, producing a scoreless draw. Now with only four points separating them, they'll face off again in the Super Lig in less than four weeks on the European side of Istanbul.

Zico: Referees Should Fair & Equal For Everyone

After Fenerbahce's 2-2 draw in Kayserispor, Zico spoke with the press and stated his frustration with the referee's treatment of Fenerbahce.

"In the last minutes of the first half we made a mistake and Kayserispor used the chance to score. Our goal in the very last minute of the match was like a gift to me. I’ve never commented about the referees before and I don’t like to talk about them, but the penalties which we had to win today and the wrong decisions make me talk."

Regarding what he perceives as unequal treatment toward Fenerbahce, Zico said "The decisions should be equal and fair for everyone. When our competitors object to the referee, nothing happens. When my players object to a decision, they are punished with yellow cards. They play on my players’ nerves and the referees allow it and that brings us under pressure. (It is) like we are playing against 14 players. Tumer’s position was definitely a penalty. It’s a record that we never won a penalty in these 27 weeks. This is really interesting."

Brazilian Deivid de Souza has taken a lot of criticism from fans this season, but he not only got on their good side with a tying goal in stoppage time Saturday, he will also go down in the Fenerbahce history and record books as well. De Souza scored Fener's 100th goal of the season in this, their 100th season of existence. After the game, he commented "I’m very happy that I scored the 100th goal of Fenerbahce in our 100th year. I hope that I will also help the team on the way to be the champion in the league and to get the Fortis Turkish Cup by scoring more goals. I hope that this goal will bring me luck. I will do my best to make the team become the champion of the league."

Fenerbahce, Kayserispor Draw Even

Fenerbahce left Kayseri on Saturday with only one point, but they were fortunate to get that as the Yellow Canaries and Kayserispor drew even at 2-2.

Fener opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a free kick from Alex de Souza that Tuncay Sanli headed in to put them up 1-0. Tuncay came blazing in to position himself in front of two Kayseri defenders and the goal for a perfectly-placed header that just sailed past the goalkeeper's outstretched arms. The header would come back to haunt Fener, as Kayserispor's Iglesias took a high-arching pass and headed it past Serdar in first half stoppage time to equalize going into the break.

In the second half, Kemal put Kayserispor up 2-1 with another header just past Serdar in the 70th minute. The goal left Fener fans feeling bleak, knowing they needed to come away from Kayseri with something to keep some distance between themselves and Besiktas. Finally, in second half stoppage time, Deivid de Souza found the back of the net on a header that salvaged a point for Fenerbahce.

The game also saw Edu Dracena get sent off with a red card in stoppage time. Alex de Souza got into a bit of a shouting match with one of the Kayserispor players, but Edu stepped in and shoved the player, resulting in a red card. Mateja Kezman also picked up a yellow card for Fener.

The draw gives Fenerbahce 55 points on the season, but Besiktas picked up a win over the weekend, decreasing the Fener lead to only four points. The two teams will meet up on Wednesday of this week in the Fortis Turkish Cup. Fenerbahce will then return home this weekend to take on Vestel Manisaspor in Turkcell Super Lig action.

Current State of the TFF and Ulusoy

The following article appears in Friday's edition of the Turkish Daily News, written by Ozgur Korkmaz. Please visit www.turkishdailynews.com.tr to read the article in its entirety.


Haluk Ulusoy under spotlight, again

Friday, April 6, 2007

Turkish Football Federation chief Haluk Ulusoy is being opposed by most Turkcell Super League clubs, more than half of the congress delegates and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), but somehow he has been able to stay in office.

The situation in the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) is getting stranger each and every day. TFF chief Haluk Ulusoy has been able to stay in the office until now in spite of all opposition and accusations, but the recent developments sparked a new discussion about his future.

The latest shock for Ulusoy, who is already dealing with a trial that demands the appointment of a trustee to the office, came yesterday from his deputy Kemal Kapulluoğlu. Announcing his resignation yesterday, Kapulluoğlu claimed the reason was personal and he would always support Ulusoy. However, a story in the daily Milliyet asserted the opposite.

The story by Cemal Ersen claimed the resignation was the result of a disagreement between Kapulluoğlu and Ulusoy. Kapulluoğlu was working for Ulusoy since his first term in 1994 and was one of the closest persons to him. His resignation, ahead of the financial congress in June that will set Ulusoy managemet's future, is considered a reaction to recent decisions, especially the interference in Professional Football Disciplinary Commission (PFDK) rulings.


‘Do not punish Fenerbahçe':

According to a story by Atilla Türker in yesterday's Hürriyet daily, PFDK Chairman Talay Şenol called board members before Tuesday's meeting and said, “Mr. Ulusoy sends his regards and he does not want Fenerbahçe to be punished.”

A file about Fenerbahçe was on the commission's agenda regarding the incidents between the Fenerbahçe match during the Bursaspor away game on March 17. Two fans were stabbed and one suffered a broken leg in a brawl between Fenerbahçe fans. The PFDK was expected to force Fenerbahçe to play at least one game behind closed doors, but surprisingly announced after Tuesday's meeting that there was no need to punish or fine the Istanbul club.

Türker in his story claims that long-time enemies Ulusoy and Fenerbahçe chairman Aziz Yıldırım have recently come to an agreement, and in exchange for support in a possible emergency congress, Ulusoy pressured the PFDK not to punish Fenerbahçe.


Nothing done about real problems:

While the football community focuses on TFF related issues, a bigger problem is disregarded. Eight people, including supporter group leaders, were taken into custody last week on charges of violent crimes and using fake ID cards. Among them was Fenerbahçe's “Sefa,” who was blamed for starting the recent “war” between Fenerbahçe supporter groups.

Supporter groups in Turkiye have long been associated with managing the black market for tickets, the manufacture and sale of imitation official club merchandise and football violence, but the TFF management and the Sports Ministry are so fully engaged with election issues that they could never have enough time to focus on the dark side of football.

Fenerbahce Ready for Kayserispor

Week 27 of the Turkcell Super Lig kicks off tonight, and league leaders Fenerbahce travel to Kayseri tomorrow for a crucial game. With only eight Super Lig games remaining, Fenerbahce currently sits six points up on second place Besiktas. Fener is hoping to avoid the late-season meltdown from a year ago, and the players are certainly pleased that they have their destiny in their own hands. However, huge rivalry games with Galatasaray, Besiktas, and Trabzonspor still await the Canaries on the schedule. Kayserispor will be a tremendously difficult game for Fenerbahce. Kayseri currently sits in fourth place with 4o points, only five points back of Galatasaray. However, only six points seperate them from 12th place Gaziantepspor. Kayseri is fighting for one of the coveted European spots at the top of the table, and a win against the league leaders would be huge for the Central Anatolians.

Fenerbahce and Kayserispor kick off at 16:30 (11:30 AM EST in the U.S.) on Saturday. Friday's only league game will see Galatasaray play host to Erciyesspor. Besiktas is also home on Saturday, hosting Caykur Rizespor.

Attendance in the Turkcell Super Lig

The following article appeared in Wednesday's Zaman. The article addressed attendance in the Turkcell Super Lig and the reasoning behind some of the lack of fan support at the bottom of the table. I thought it was interesting; you can check out the entire article by going to http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=107427&bolum=127

Fener has most spectators, but lags behind Euro teams

Turkey's Turkcell Super League, famous for its loud and cheerful bleachers, does not attract as many spectators as the European clubs.

Fenerbahçe, the richest soccer club in Turkey, has a fan potential of well over 20 million. It is therefore no surprise that Fenerbahçe supporters top the match attendance list in Turkey.

Forty-eight European countries were monitored and the number of spectators at each club was determined and published on a Web site. In Turkey it was revealed that Fenerbahçe has the largest following, while Çaykur Rizespor has the fewest spectators.

The Web site showed that the Yellow Canaries played in front of an average of 39,542 spectators this season. The Canaries were followed by Beşiktaş with an average 26,249 spectators, and the Eagles played in front of 33,000 in their most popular game. Galatasaray was a distant third with an average of only 16,307 fans at its Ali Sami Yen Stadium. Çaykur Rizespor had the lowest following with an average of 8,222 spectators, attracting a maximum of 10,200 fans at best.

Turkey lags behind Europe

The average number of spectators was calculated on a list compiled according to the 18 teams competing in Turkey's Turkcell Super League, and it was determined that Turkey's numbers are no match to their European counterparts.

An average of 14,049 fans came out to support their team in the Turkcell Super League this year. This number is much higher in Europe with teams in the German Bundesliga averaging 38,933 - making it Europe's most popular league. Another interesting finding of the study was the German Second Division attracting a larger number of spectators than Turkey's Super League. Also known as Bundesliga 2, it attracted an average of 15,957 spectators, while TSV 1860 Munich attracted 69,000 at one game, a record-breaker for the season.

When Beşiktaş and Galatasaray, two of the "Big Three" in Turkey, were combined, they had the same number of spectators as Second Division FC Cologne -- coached by Fenerbahçe "reject" Christoph Daum.

Why Fenerbahçe?

Why do Fener matches attract the highest number of spectators? There may be two answers to this question. The first is love for and devotion to the club. The second is the Sükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in İstanbul, where Fener's home matches are played.

The Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Kadıköy was inaugurated in 1908 and extensively renovated between 1999 and 2006, greatly increasing its capacity. It is the first stadium in Turkey designed according to world soccer standards. In October 2006 after several inspections by the UEFA, European soccer's governing body, Şükrü Saracoğlu was named as the host of the 2009 UEFA Cup final.

The stadium is unique because most Turkish stadiums have a running track between the pitch and the stands, while here the fans are on top of the action. When the stadium was renovated, each stand was completely uprooted and rebuilt. Each one of these stands has been built closer to the pitch, bringing the fans closer to the action on the field.

The style of the stadium is a first in Turkey. The "Maraton" stand can hold up to 14,500 spectators. This stand includes box suites, which are all rented out by the club. These box suites, equipped with TVs, Internet access, work areas, dining facilities and many other luxuries, are the first of their kind in Turkey. Facing Maraton is the "Fenerium" stand with its 15,000 seating capacity and its equally luxurious "1907" zone. With the other stands ("Migros" and "Telsim") each having a 10,500-seat capacity, the total capacity of the stadium is 50,509. The logic is simple: Build a nice and comfortable stadium and fans will come en masse and watch matches.

Fenerbahce Arrives in Syria

Fenerbahce arrived in Syria Monday afternoon, one day ahead of their friendly vs. Syrian side Al Ittihad. The team was nearly mobbed as Syrian Fenerbahce fans were there to greet them as their bus pulled up.

Kickoff for Tuesday's game is scheduled for 19:45 local time.

Fenerbahce Heads to Syria for Friendly

Fenerbahce travels to Syria today for a friendly match against the top team in Syrian futbol. Al Ittihad of Aleppo will be opening their new Olympic stadium on Tuesday and will play a friendly against Turkiye's top team to commemorate the opening. The game is scheduled for 19:45 local time Tuesday.

Fenerbahce last played in Syria in 1951 and won two games during their 3-game tour that year. This time, Fenerbahce will not only make the trip, but so will Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a throng of Fenerbahce fans. Fener, who has a strong fan base in Syria, is benefitting from several travel agencies and tour companies who have organized trips to see the Canaries play in the neighboring country. Erdogan, a Fenerbahce fan, also played semi-pro futbol for 16 years when he was younger. Additionally, some of members of Fenerbahce's team that played in Syria 56 years ago are also making the trip.

In addition to the trip being an effort of goodwill and diplomacy, Fener is attempting to strengthen their fan base in Syria and throughout the Middle East. The club has printed brochures in Arabic to hand out to fans at the stadium. Inside, the brochures also features stories on the players and a Fenerbahce poster. There is also a special message from Aziz Yildirim.

From a technical standpoint, Zico is expected to rest many of the starters and give other players an opportunity to gain some gameday experience on the pitch.

Fenerbahce Drops Ankaraspor 2-1

A sunny, Sunday afternoon greeted fans at Sukru Saracoglu as Fener played daytime futbol for the first time in a while. The sunshine wasn't the only thing for fans to smile about, as Fener dispatched Ankaraspor 2-1 to gain three valuable points.

Ankara struck first 20 minutes in, when Bilal and Diego Lugano got tangled up near the goal, resulting in a penalty kick for Ankara. Wederson took the kick for Ankara and found the back of the net, putting them up 1-0. As the first half wound down, it appeared that the score would remain the same, but in first half stoppage time, Fener found themselves with a golden opportunity. In an attacking formation, Umit Ozat received the ball on the left side and put a beautiful cross over to Alex de Souza who was at the front left of the goal. Despite Ankara having numbers with five defenders up, the cross found Alex who struck a nice ball of his right foot in the back of the left side of the goal, just barely the past the reach of the goalkeeper. The goal sent Fener into the half with renewed confidence and a 1-1 game.

The second half started slowly, but in the 72 minute Fenerbahce found themselves with another opportunity off of a corner kick. Alex took the corner from the left side, and he struck a perfect ball to a leaping Tuncay Sanli up front for a fantastic header and the second goal of the game for Fenerbahce. Tuncay's header put the Canaries up 2-1, which would be the final score.

Zico again went with Serdar in goal and he played a terrific game. Diego Lugano, Serdar, and Umit Ozat all picked up yellow cards for Fener.

The win keeps Fenerbahce at the top of the Turkcell Super Lig standings, nine points ahead of second place Besiktas. BJK is in action on Monday, and third place Galatasaray pulled out a 2-1 win on Sunday as they try to stay in the hunt for the Lig title. The GS win pulls them even with Besiktas with 45 points each.

Fenerbahce now must travel to Syria to play a friendly on Tuesday, and then return to Super Lig action this weekend when they travel to Kayseri to take on Kayserispor. More to come on the upcoming friendly in Syria soon.