Turkey’s Minister of Youth and Sports announced the suspension domestic sports competitions “until further notice”, after a devastating earthquake in the south-east of the country, reports AFP.

Earthquake in TurkeyPhoto: Depo Photos / Abaca Press / Profimedia
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Sports competitions in Turkey are suspended until further notice due to the devastating earthquake

“Youth and Sports Minister Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoglu has announced that all national sports have been suspended until further notice due to the earthquake,” – it is stated in the message of the ministry.

On Monday, three matches of the 23rd stage of the Super League, the Turkish football championship, were to take place: two in Istanbul and the third in the east of the country, on the Black Sea coast. According to the Turkish Football Federation, they have been postponed to an unspecified date.

“As the Minister of Youth and Sports reported, sports competitions have been postponed. That is why we have postponed the matches of our football leagues.” emphasized in the federation.

“You know, I come from Gaziantep (not near the epicenter of the earthquake). I know the region well. As the president of the Turkish Football Federation, we are with our state and nation. Today, more than ever, we must act in unity to heal our wounds together.” said the president of the Turkish Football Forum, Mehmet Buyukeksi.

On social media, most of Turkey’s football clubs, whose profiles and banners are now black, sent messages of condolences and support to the victims of the disaster.

Initiatives have also been announced from the world of sports, such as a blood drive organized on Tuesday morning by the Red Crescent at the stadium of Besiktas Istanbul.

Two other major Istanbul clubs, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, announced that they would organize a collection of food, equipment, clothing and hygiene products for the earthquake-affected areas. Donations will be brought to the stadiums of the two clubs, writes Agerpres.

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