The Relationship Between Football and Politics in Turkey in the Late Ottoman-Early Republic Periods

Hüseyin Say

Article Details

The Relationship Between Football and Politics in Turkey in the Late Ottoman-Early Republic Periods

Authors:

Hüseyin Say

Publisher:

Bursa Uludağ University

Main Topics:

Spor Sosyolojisi

Journal:

Uludağ Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.26 Issue 48, pp.125-148

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001338495

pISSN:

2564-6834

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Football in Turkey has been associated with politics since it first began to be played in these territories. Except for the students of Galatasaray High School, which was in a privileged position due to its proximity to the palace, Turkish and Muslim subjects were forbidden to play football and establish football teams until 1908. After the Committee of Union and Progress came to power, football took on a nationalist character in parallel with the policy of the Committee. In this period, the teams established a relationship with the Committee and wanted to benefit from certain advantages. At the same time, the Committee also turned to football in order to use its power to influence the masses. Despite all the changing conditions, the relationship between football and politics continued during the First World War, the War of Independence and the Single-Party Period of the Turkish Republic. Teams quickly adapted to changing conditions and preferred to have certain privileges by staying close to politics. In this study, the adventure of football from its beginning in the Ottoman Empire to the Single-Party Period of the Republic of Turkey is analyzed in the context of proximity to politics.

 Football in Turkey has been associated with politics since it first began to be played in these territories. Except for the students of Galatasaray High School, which was in a privileged position due to its proximity to the palace, Turkish and Muslim subjects were forbidden to play football and establish football teams until 1908. After the Committee of Union and Progress came to power, football took on a nationalist character in parallel with the policy of the Committee. In this period, the teams established a relationship with the Committee and wanted to benefit from certain advantages. At the same time, the Committee also turned to football in order to use its power to influence the masses. Despite all the changing conditions, the relationship between football and politics continued during the First World War, the War of Independence and the Single-Party Period of the Turkish Republic. Teams quickly adapted to changing conditions and preferred to have certain privileges by staying close to politics. In this study, the adventure of football from its beginning in the Ottoman Empire to the Single-Party Period of the Republic of Turkey is analyzed in the context of proximity to politics.

 Football in Turkey has been associated with politics since it first began to be played in these territories. Except for the students of Galatasaray High School, which was in a privileged position due to its proximity to the palace, Turkish and Muslim subjects were forbidden to play football and establish football teams until 1908. After the Committee of Union and Progress came to power, football took on a nationalist character in parallel with the policy of the Committee. In this period, the teams established a relationship with the Committee and wanted to benefit from certain advantages. At the same time, the Committee also turned to football in order to use its power to influence the masses. Despite all the changing conditions, the relationship between football and politics continued during the First World War, the War of Independence and the Single-Party Period of the Turkish Republic. Teams quickly adapted to changing conditions and preferred to have certain privileges by staying close to politics. In this study, the adventure of football from its beginning in the Ottoman Empire to the Single-Party Period of the Republic of Turkey is analyzed in the context of proximity to politics.

 Türkiyede futbol, bu topraklarda oynanmaya başladığından beri siyaset ile iç içedir. Saraya yakınlığı nedeniyle ayrıcalıklı bir konumda olan Galatasaray Lisesi öğrencileri hariç, Türk ve Müslüman tebaanın 1908e kadar futbol oynaması ve futbol takımı kurması yasaktır. İttihat ve Terakki Cemiyetinin iktidarı ele geçirmesiyle futbol, Cemiyetin politikasına paralel olarak milliyetçi bir karakter göstermiştir. Bu dönemde takımlar, Cemiyetle bir şekilde ilişki kurmuş ve belli avantajlardan yararlanmak istemişlerdir. Aynı zamanda Cemiyet de futbolun kitleleri etkileme gücünü kullanabilmek adına futbola yönelmiştir. Futbolun siyasetle olan ilişkisi değişen tüm koşullara rağmen Birinci Dünya Savaşı Döneminde, Kurtuluş Savaşı Döneminde ve Tek Parti Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Döneminde de sürmüştür. Takımlar, değişen koşullara hızlıca adapte olmuş ve siyasete yakın durarak belli imtiyazlara sahip olmayı tercih etmişlerdir. Bu çalışmada futbolun Osmanlı İmparatorluğuna girişinden, tek partili Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Dönemine kadar olan serüveni, siyasete yakınlık bağlamında incelenmiştir.

Article Details

The Relationship Between Football and Politics in Turkey in the Late Ottoman-Early Republic Periods

Authors:

Hüseyin Say

Publisher:

Bursa Uludağ University

Main Topics:

Spor Sosyolojisi

Journal:

Uludağ Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.26 Issue 48, pp.125-148

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001338495

pISSN:

2564-6834

football

politics

Ottoman

Committee of Union and Progress

Single-Party Periodfutbol

siyaset

Osmanlı

İttihat ve Terakki Cemiyeti

Tek Parti Dönemi

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Hüseyin Say

Publisher: Bursa Uludağ University

Main Topics: Spor Sosyolojisi

Journal: Uludağ Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.26 Issue 48, pp.125-148

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 1/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001338495

pISSN: 2564-6834

Issues

Authors:

Hüseyin Say

Publisher:

Bursa Uludağ University

Main Topics:

Spor Sosyolojisi

Journal:

Uludağ Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.26 Issue 48, pp.125-148

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001338495

pISSN:

2564-6834