03/05/2025
𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭!
Concerning the disciplinary actions announced against our club on the Football Federation of North Macedonia (FFM) website:
Before we proceed, we want to clarify that we still have not received official documentation from the FFM regarding the sanctions imposed on our football club. At this point, our only information comes from what is published on the FFM website.
We understand that disciplinary measures are intended to deter and punish individuals who engage in misconduct. However, the FFM uses fines to silence those who seek justice and respond to injustice. Instead of addressing complaints and striving to resolve issues, it has chosen to punish our football club in the harshest possible manner.
We are not the first team in the Republic of North Macedonia to withdraw from the fields and the league. Two teams have already stepped back from their matches and the league in the last two weeks, although our club suffered and may suffer the harshest disciplinary measures.
Facing the ongoing challenges on the field, we had two clear choices:
1. To cower in fear of penalties and passively accept injustice;
2. To confront the injustices imposed by the FFM with courage.
We chose the latter, and while it resulted in disciplinary measures against us, it also revealed the organized hostility the FFM harbors toward our club. The disciplinary actions taken against us are clearly aimed at undermining our progress at the highest levels. The appointment of referees with past disciplinary records, the consistent and inexplicable rule errors during our matches, the reassignment of referees who have previously made mistakes, and the severe penalties imposed on our carded players, each facing a minimum of four-match suspension, along with the harsh consequences for our technical staff, all demonstrate this bias. Furthermore, our players have faced unacceptable police violence after matches. Foreign players were taken from the stadium to a police station and held overnight, further emphasizing this hostile environment. We stand firm in the face of these challenges and will continue to fight for justice and fairness.
We are disappointed, yet not surprised, that 𝐈𝐆𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐉𝐂𝐄𝐕𝐒𝐊𝐈, a referee notorious for his scandals and questionable reputation, was assigned to our last match. (google him.)
Our decision to withdraw from the match was not based on a single incident but rather a culminationof the various irregularities wehave faced for long time. This also includes the incident we 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 where I called for a thorough investigation. We are committed to ensuring that any accusations made about our people are backed by solid evidence. If the FFM believes that all the rules were always followed, they should pursue an international review to confirm this.
Additionally, one of our players, Alper Potuk, has been handed a two-year ban based on information published on the FFM website, despite his explanation in the statement given to the FFM that his actions were influenced by others. Alper Potuk has significantly promoted Macedonian football in Turkiye, a country with a population of 85 million, and his contributions cannot be overlooked.
In contrast to supporting him, the FFM published a disciplinary action against Alper Potuk on its website, resulting in negative publicity across all major sports newspapers.
𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: 𝐀 𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬.
Can any footballer, regardless of their status as captain, call the team off the pitch? The FFM management team, with their extensive football background, must acknowledge this reality. It is unacceptable that foreign players are often subjected to harsher penalties, unwarranted disciplinary actions, and even unjust detention. This approach will not advance Macedonian football. We demand the same respect for our players, their families, and our football club that we extend to you. It is time for change.
𝐖𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞, 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲. This decision has been made with careful consideration, and we are confident it is the right course of action for our future.
Upon receiving the official documentation, we will insist that the disciplinary board substantially reduce the penalties imposed on our club and fully lift the sanctions against our captain and the players.
We also extend our best wishes for continued success to the other teams!
Gostivar Football Club 💙🤍
