Turkey National Team Goalkeeper Berke Özer dropped After unauthorized Departure
TBILISI, GEORGIA (Tuesday, 8:45 p.m.) – Turkey’s national football team will face Georgia without goalkeeper Berke Özer, after the Lille player left the team camp following a recent match against Bulgaria without permission from team management. The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has deemed Özer’s actions “unacceptable,” replacing him with Sinan Bolat for upcoming World Cup qualifying matches.
The incident comes at a critical juncture for Turkey, currently second in Group E - three points behind Spain - in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the USA. Having not qualified for the tournament in many years, the team is striving to reach its peak in unity and solidarity, making Özer’s departure a notable disruption. The TFF released a statement emphasizing the importance of discipline, respect, and team spirit, stating that representing the national team “surpasses everything else.”
Özer, recently valued at 8 million euros in a French Ligue 1 market value update, earned his first caps for Turkey in summer friendlies against the USA and Mexico. Prior to Özer’s recent appearances, Galatasaray’s Uğurcan Çakır had been the first-choice goalkeeper, with Beşiktaş’s mert Günok as his backup.
“Our biggest dream is to qualify for the World Cup. We haven’t done it for many years,” said head coach Vincenzo Montella after a 6-0 defeat to Spain in September, followed by a crucial win against Bulgaria. “No matter what happens, we will not give up our dream of the World Cup and our ambition to get there.”
