Erman Toroğlu: “Neither Kayserispor nor clubs managed like Kayserispor can be in a better place.”

Former referee and football commentator Erman Toroğlu, during a statement he made at the 7th Kayseri Book Fair, where he came for an interview, said, “Neither Kayserispor nor clubs managed like Kayserispor can be in a better position.”

At the 7th Book Fair held in Kayseri, former referee and football commentator Erman Toroğlu held a conversation with his fans. In the interview, Toroğlu answered questions and shared his most beautiful and challenging memories from his playing and refereeing days.

“We need to raise this generation in cotton.”
During the event, Erman Toroğlu made statements to İhlas News Agency (İHA), expressing that the book fair held in Kayseri is a very large and beautiful fair. He said, “Students are coming with their schools, which is very good. These generations are very important. We need to pay great attention to these generations. We need to raise this generation in cotton. Our generations faced difficulties, but this generation has opportunities. There is television, there are phones. However, these advantages can lead in both very good and very bad directions. More importantly, we need to attract these generations to sports. For that, we will construct sports facilities. All municipalities have not built any sports facilities for 60-70 years. I grew up in Ankara. They constructed buildings wherever there was an empty space to gain profit. When I first went to England for a match in 1973, as I landed in London, I saw green fields, grass, parks. Today, when I go there, I still see those areas. However, when I land in Istanbul or Ankara, I see that every place I left in my youth has become an apartment. Those who did this for profit are, of course, politicians; it’s that simple. It doesn’t matter to me whether it’s Party C or Party X; politicians have profited and have not cared for the youth in Turkey. Now they say the youth are doing this and that. What are children supposed to do? If children play on the grass, they will leave their electricity. They sleep well at home at night, drink their milk, eat their yogurt. But those guys are not growing up there; they go home and drink alcohol, use drugs, maybe smoke. This has been done by our politicians for the last 60 years. As I said, it doesn’t matter to me what viewpoint or party they belong to. I am very troubled about this.”

“Neither Kayserispor nor clubs managed like Kayserispor can be in a better position.”
Toroğlu stated that Kayserispor should be in better places, but such a thing is not possible. He said, “Kayserispor needs to be in better places. Neither Kayserispor nor clubs managed like Kayserispor can be in better places. For example, our Ankaragücü. They are currently playing in a disgraceful position; they could play every match in front of at least 50,000 people. It’s not like Kayseri; they could play in front of 50,000 people. But they brought this coach, that coach, emptied the club, and in the end, they beat up the referee. Now they are trying to get out of the 1st League, but they won’t be able to. All clubs need to be incorporated as A.Ş.s. If they become A.Ş.s, football in Turkey will be saved. If they don’t become A.Ş.s, small clubs will go bankrupt, and big clubs will fall into Arab capital. This is very clear. You will see this. We will live this. It won’t take long. Beşiktaş is constructing the Nevzat Demir Facilities in 2002. Until today, they have been bringing water there with tankers. One kilometer away, the municipality has brought water; they don’t take it and bring it with tankers. Because whoever brings it in a tanker gains profit. This is Beşiktaş Club; I don’t want to think about the others. I wonder how much debt Kayserispor has in TL? The club president comes. He works for 3-4 years, then leaves. When he leaves, he says, ‘I have 8-10 million dollars owed to me.’ Nobody has asked this man, ‘You have 8 million dollars owed to you, okay. But what do you do? You’re a contractor; okay, how much tax did you pay to the state during your term? Where did you earn this money to give 8 million dollars to the club?’ So far, no one has asked. Icardi is coming to Turkey. There is also Osimhen. How much money are they giving him? The money he earns here, many teams in Europe would pay. Why didn’t they pay? Can’t Barcelona or a lower team pay? They can. Messi left Spain because of tax evasion. Ronaldo left Spain and Italy. Football players are leaving because of taxes. If you openly give it in a paper bag, they won’t leave.” After the speech, Toroğlu distributed autographs to his fans.