Structural Inequity and Identity Politics within International Football: The impacts of exclusion from the international arena on the KTFF Süper Lig

Abstract

The lack of recognition by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) creates significant knowledge, financial, and political challenges for the Cyprus Turkish Football Association (CTFA). CTFA players live and continue to play football in difficult circumstances, facing many problems, such as inequity, discrimination, and epistemic injustice.

A Thematic Analysis approach was used to evaluate responses from semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 15 players from Yenicami Ağdelen S.K. (Study 1), corroborated by responses to a survey of a wider comparative group of football professionals, consisting of n=78 CTFA referees and n=201 Süper Lig football players (Study 2). This thesis investigates the systemic challenges in Northern Cyprus football, focusing on structural inequity, loss of identity, isolation, and political and economic oppression.

Study 1 explored the challenges faced by CTFA Süper Lig players, exposing the themes of identity loss, isolation, and systemic inequality. Interviews highlighted the impact of exclusion on careers and mental well-being. Survey data from 201 players and 78 referees were examined in Study 2, which identified systemic inequalities, discrimination, lack of resources, and isolation. Participants required systemic reform and international recognition.

The study concludes that exclusion from global governing bodies for sport has had a destroying impact on sport in Northern Cyprus, particularly football. The loss of sporting identity has significant psycho-social impact on athletes and professional football players. Football has always been a vehicle for national identity, global isolation, and exclusion from the ‘football family’ of FIFA and UEFA.

There is a need for international capacity building partnerships to future proof the game. Football’s global governing bodies said they are committed to inclusion, equality, and human rights. There is structural inequity within international football, where professional players are denied the advantages of affiliation to the global governing bodies solely because of where they live.