Turkish Football Fed. members resign amid coup probe

ISTANBUL (AA) – All members of the Turkish Football Federation’s (TFF) affiliated committees have resigned as part of a nation-wide investigation into the July 15 coup attempt, the federation said in a statement on Sunday.

The federation said its affiliated committees, including the arbitration board, disciplinary committee, referees board and anti-doping committee, resigned for the sake of "safety of inspection" against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), accused of orchestrating the July 15 coup attempt.

Following the security checks, FETO-linked members’ resignation will be accepted while those proven with no links to the group will return to their duties within the federation.

On Thursday, the federation’s president said the three-month state of emergency, declared after the coup attempt, would not affect football matches in Turkey.
"All international and local sports events will continue as planned,” Yildirim Demiroren said in a statement.

More than 66,000 people employed in state institutions have been dismissed from their duties amid a nationwide probe into July 15 coup attempt.

According to latest records, compiled by Anadolu Agency on Thursday, 66,036 employees at state institutions and organizations have been dismissed from their duties for allegedly having links to the failed coup.

Turkey survived a deadly coup attempt on July 15 by rogue elements within the military that martyred at least 238 people and injured nearly 2,200 others.

Turkey's government has repeatedly said the coup attempt was organized by U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen and his Fetullah Terrorist Organization.

Gulen is accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.