Unknown persons carry out a firearm attack on the headquarters of the Turkish Football Association near Istanbul. A total of seven balls hit two rooms. The association board is currently meeting in one, including ex-Bundesliga professional Hamit Altintop. A large-scale investigation is now underway.
According to media reports, several shots were fired during a meeting of the Turkish Football Association (TFF) board of directors near Istanbul - at the president's office as well as at the boardroom. A total of seven bullets are said to have hit the two rooms, according to the Cumhuriyet newspaper and the CNN Türk portal, citing statements.
No one was injured, but one of the projectiles narrowly missed board members Ali Düsmez and Hamit Altintop or fell to the ground between them. Altintop, who was active for Schalke 04 and Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga for years, became a football official after his career in the Turkish national team and has been on the TFF board since 2019.
"We threw ourselves on the ground when we heard the shots," other media quote Altintop. "The other board members thought I was hurt." He also expressed the hope that the perpetrators will be caught soon. In the meantime, they were able to move away from the crime scene at the headquarters of the Turkish Football Association in Riva. According to the reports, the perpetrators fled in a car. The security authorities have started the investigation and are viewing video material. Nothing is known about the background of the crime. "A large-scale investigation into the attack has been launched," Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya wrote on Twitter.
Turkish national coach Stefan Kuntz wrote on Instagram: "Shocking news from my second home. I'm so glad everyone is healthy and I condemn these crimes in the strongest possible terms." The former Bundesliga professional continued: "I've already called my friends and colleagues in Riva and I'm glad no one was injured. My thoughts are with you."
The big Süper Lig clubs condemned the act. "We strongly condemn the armed attack on the headquarters of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) in Riva and send our condolences to the entire football community, especially the TFF," wrote Istanbul club Galatasaray on Twitter.
