Sports
Beşiktaş accuse TFF of unfair treatment after Vlahovic referral
Beşiktaş have accused the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) of applying disciplinary rules unfairly after Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic was referred to the Professional Football Disciplinary Committee over an incident during the club’s derby victory against Fenerbahçe.
Vlahovic was referred to the PFDK by the TFF Legal Counsel on Monday under Article 41 of the Football Disciplinary Instructions for alleged “insult” during Beşiktaş’s 2-1 victory over Fenerbahçe on Sept. 5.
The decision immediately drew a strong response from Beşiktaş, who questioned why Vlahovic was disciplined while Fenerbahçe defender Milan skriniar, who was involved in the same confrontation, was not referred.
The incident occurred during a tense second half at Chobani Stadium, where Beşiktaş rallied to claim a major derby victory.
skriniar put Fenerbahçe ahead in the 26th minute before Rıdvan Yılmaz equalized for the visitors 12 minutes later. Vlahovic then completed the comeback in the 73rd minute, scoring the winning goal in his first major derby for the Istanbul club.
The striker was at the center of a heated exchange with skriniar shortly after halftime. Both players were shown yellow cards around the 52nd and 53rd minutes following the confrontation.
According to Beşiktaş, however, the incident did not begin with Vlahovic. The club argued that skriniar had repeatedly provoked its striker through his words and actions during the match and questioned why only Vlahovic faced disciplinary proceedings.
“It is unacceptable that our player Dusan Vlahovic has been referred to the disciplinary board, while the opposing team player, who provoked our player with his actions and words throughout the match, has not been referred.,” Beşiktaş said in a statement.
The club described the referral as evidence that Turkish football is being managed without sufficient regard for “justice and equality” and accused the TFF and its disciplinary bodies of once again displaying what it called a hostile attitude toward Beşiktaş.
Beşiktaş also challenged the source of the evidence used to refer Vlahovic.
“If this referral decision was made on the basis of the broadcaster’s footage, was only the footage of our player provided to you by the broadcaster?” the club asked the federation.
The club also questioned the role of the video assistant referee system, arguing that VAR had access to multiple camera angles showing both players during the confrontation but did not intervene or call the referee to review the incident.
“VAR can follow both players from all angles in the incident that occurred on the pitch, so why did it not feel the need to call the match referee?” Beşiktaş said.
The club then turned its criticism toward the Süper Lig’s broadcaster, accusing it of presenting the incident selectively.
Beşiktaş claimed the broadcaster repeatedly showed Vlahovic during its coverage of the confrontation while failing to show skriniar in the same context, arguing that the presentation did not meet the standards of objectivity and equality expected of the league’s broadcaster.
The club said it would file the necessary objections with the relevant authorities to defend both Vlahovic and the institution.
The PFDK referral does not constitute a final disciplinary decision. As of Sept. 9, the committee had not announced a ruling on the case.
Article 41 covers conduct including insults, threats and attacks on personal rights. Depending on the nature of the offense and the person targeted, the regulations can result in a suspension of several matches if the charge is upheld.
The referral was made without precautionary suspension, meaning Vlahovic was not automatically barred from playing while the disciplinary process continued.
The case comes barely a month after Vlahovic joined Beşiktaş as a free agent following the end of his contract with Juventus.
The 26-year-old Serbia international signed a three-year deal with the Istanbul club in August, reportedly earning a guaranteed €7.5 million per season. He arrived with an impressive record in Italy, having scored 68 goals in 168 appearances for Juventus.
Under manager Vincenzo Italiano, Vlahovic has quickly emerged as a central figure in Beşiktaş’s attack, and his winning goal against Fenerbahçe gave him an immediate signature moment in one of Turkish football’s biggest fixtures.
The potential disciplinary case now threatens to overshadow that derby heroics.
For Beşiktaş, the dispute is about more than the availability of one player. The club’s unusually forceful statement frames the referral as another example of what it sees as inconsistent treatment by Turkish football authorities.
The PFDK’s eventual ruling will determine whether Vlahovic faces a suspension and how many matches he could miss, while Beşiktaş have made clear that they intend to challenge the decision through the appropriate channels.
Arda Güler received the UEFA Champions League Breakthrough Player award for the 2025-26 season before Real Madrid’s opening league-phase match against Inter Milan on Tuesday, recognizing the Turkish midfielder’s emergence as an influential player on Europe’s biggest stage.
Güler was honored in a pregame ceremony at the Santiago Bernabeu, where Real Madrid legend Luis Figo presented him with the trophy as the home crowd applauded the 21-year-old.
The award, also known as the Revelation of the Season honor, was introduced to recognize a young player who makes a significant jump in impact, consistency and maturity during the Champions League campaign. UEFA’s Technical Observer Group selected Güler for the honor after his expanded role during the 2025-26 season.
Güler’s recognition came despite his absence from Real Madrid’s squad for the Inter match. He was serving a suspension stemming from a red card he received after the final whistle of the Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Bayern Munich last season.
The midfielder was sent off after protesting the dismissal of teammate Eduardo Camavinga, leaving him ineligible for Real Madrid’s first league-phase fixture of the new campaign. He therefore received his award in civilian clothes rather than his Real Madrid match kit and watched the game from the stands.
Güler made a significant leap last season after seeing limited action in his first full Champions League campaign. He made 14 appearances, including 13 starts, and played 1,030 minutes, compared with 142 minutes and one start the previous season.
He scored twice in the competition, both coming in the second leg against Bayern. His opening goal came after just 34 seconds, setting a club record for the fastest Champions League goal by Real Madrid in that competition, according to the club.
Güler also contributed several assists during the campaign and earned Player of the Match honors for his composed midfield performance in Real Madrid’s league-phase victory over Juventus.
His progress was particularly notable because the Breakthrough Player award is reserved for players who meet UEFA’s age criteria and can win the honor only once. Previous Young Player of the Season winners are also ineligible.
Güler was not the only Real Madrid player recognized before kickoff.
Kylian Mbappe was presented with the Champions League top-scorer award after leading the competition with 15 goals in 11 appearances during the 2025-26 season. Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane finished second with 14 goals.
Mbappe’s scoring run also helped him win the Spanish league’s Pichichi trophy as La Liga’s top scorer.
The individual honors came on a night when Real Madrid began another European campaign with expectations high despite their disappointing finish in the previous edition. Los Blancos were eliminated by Bayern in the quarterfinals last season, with Güler’s suspension carrying over into the new campaign.
Real Madrid nevertheless opened the new league phase with a 2-1 victory over Inter.
Mbappe gave the hosts the lead in the 14th minute after taking advantage of an Inter defensive mistake, before Federico Valverde doubled the advantage before halftime following another error by the visitors.
Inter reduced the deficit late in the match through Carlos Augusto, but Real Madrid held on for three points.
Fenerbahçe return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 18 years on Thursday when they host Roma in the opening round of the league phase, hoping to turn a difficult domestic start into a memorable European night.
The match at Chobani Stadium in Istanbul kicks off at 7:45 p.m. local time.
The Yellow Canaries endured a long and difficult road back to Europe’s elite club competition.
Starting in the second qualifying round, they eliminated Gornik Zabrze and Sturm Graz before overcoming Lyon in a tense playoff to finally end an 18-year absence from the Champions League’s main phase.
Fenerbahçe have played 154 matches in UEFA competitions since their last Champions League appearance, suffering nine qualifying exits along the way. Their most recent attempt ended against Benfica last season, a setback that contributed to Jose Mourinho’s departure and eventually paved the way for Domenico Tedesco.
After Tedesco’s spell, Fenerbahçe turned to Ismail Kartal, who guided them through three rounds of qualifying and back into the competition they had been desperate to reach.
Their return, however, comes at a challenging moment domestically.
Fenerbahçe opened their Süper Lig campaign with a defeat against Gençlerbirliği but responded with consecutive victories before suffering another setback Saturday, when they were beaten at home by city rivals Beşiktaş in the derby.
Kartal’s side will therefore view the visit of Roma as an opportunity to change the mood around the team and give their supporters a result worthy of their long-awaited return to Europe’s top club competition.
Roma arrive in confident mood
Roma have also waited several years to return to the Champions League, although their seven-year absence has included a historic European triumph. The Italian club won the inaugural Europa Conference League during that period before securing their return to Europe’s premier competition with a strong finish to last season.
They ended the Serie A campaign with five consecutive victories, scoring at least twice in each of those matches while conceding only two goals. That surge helped them finish third and marked an impressive first season under veteran coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
Gasperini brings considerable European experience to the Roma dugout. During his time at Atalanta, he led the club to the Europa League title in 2024 and established them as a regular presence in European competition.
His Roma side have carried that momentum into the new season.
They have won all three of their Serie A matches and sit at the top of the early standings, ahead of reigning champions Inter Milan on goal difference. Their latest victory was particularly dramatic, with Roma producing a late comeback against Gasperini’s former club.
The Italian visitors have also been boosted by the early form of Donyell Malen, who has emerged as one of their most dangerous attacking players.
Lukaku faces former club
The game could also carry extra significance for Fenerbahçe striker Romelu Lukaku.
The Belgium international spent the 2023-24 season at Roma, making Thursday’s meeting a reunion with his former club. If selected, Lukaku will have the chance to face several familiar faces on a night when Fenerbahçe will need their leading attacking options to deliver.
Talisca, who was Fenerbahçe’s leading scorer during qualifying, has since joined Al Jazira, leaving Lukaku and Vedat Muriqi among the options to lead the attack.
Injury and suspension concerns
Fenerbahçe will be without at least two players against Roma.
Matteo Guendouzi is suspended by UEFA after receiving a two-match ban, while Marco Asensio is dealing with a thigh injury and remains unavailable.
Jayden Oosterwolde is also sidelined after undergoing surgery on a hamstring problem.
Roma have fewer selection concerns. Lorenzo Pellegrini is their only confirmed absentee as he continues his recovery from a thigh injury, leaving Gasperini with an otherwise strong squad to choose from.
Dybala and Malen
Roma possess plenty of attacking quality, with Paulo Dybala and Malen expected to play central roles.
Dybala remains the experienced centerpiece of the attack and has been among Roma’s standout performers this season. The Argentine has been directly involved in 12 goals in his last 16 Champions League starts, although his most recent appearance in the competition came in March 2022.
Malen provides a younger and more explosive threat. Alongside Dybala, he gives Roma a dangerous attacking partnership capable of testing Fenerbahçe’s defense.
Roma’s squad also features France international Manu Kone and a collection of promising young players, including Santiago Castro, Matias Soule, Rodrigo Mora and Niccolo Pisilli.
Boxing great Manny Pacquiao spent decades fighting opponents in the ring. Now, the Filipino sports icon is taking on a different and more enduring adversary: poverty.
Pacquiao joined President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet on Tuesday as head of the government’s anti-poverty agency, pledging to help Filipinos struggling with hardships he knows from personal experience.
The 47-year-old former senator was appointed lead convener of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, marking his first Cabinet post after a long political career that included service in Congress and the Senate.
His political journey has also included an unsuccessful presidential bid in 2022 and a failed attempt to return to the Senate in 2025 as part of a Marcos-backed ticket.
As NAPC chief, Pacquiao will coordinate government efforts to reduce poverty, an issue he said he understands firsthand.
“I came from poverty. I experienced sleeping on cardboard on the streets, drinking only water, having nothing to eat and saving loose coins just to help my family,” Pacquiao said in a statement.
Pacquiao, who grew up in poverty, worked as a ship stowaway and fought on the streets as a boy, earning $2 per fight. His net worth was estimated at $220 million last year, according to Sports Illustrated.
He takes over the anti-poverty agency as the Marcos administration seeks to reduce the poverty rate to 8% to 9% by 2028. Government data showed the rate fell to 9.7% in 2025, equivalent to about 11.08 million Filipinos living below the poverty line.
The only boxer to win world titles in eight weight divisions, Pacquiao remains one of the Philippines’ most revered sporting figures. His biggest fights have drawn everyone from presidents and Hollywood stars to ordinary Filipinos, often bringing the nation of 119 million people to a standstill.
The southpaw retired in 2021 but returned to the ring in July 2025 to face Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight championship in Las Vegas. Pacquiao was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2025.
Barcelona open their 2026-27 Champions League campaign Wednesday against Feyenoord at the Olympic Stadium, beginning another attempt to reclaim the European crown they last won more than a decade ago.
Hansi Flick’s side have made a perfect start to the domestic season, winning their first four La Liga matches against Elche, Athletic Bilbao, Rayo Vallecano and Valencia while scoring 17 goals.
They enter the Champions League opener at the top of the Spanish league and with confidence building around a team that has made no secret of its ambitions in Europe.
Barcelona’s fifth and most recent European Cup triumph came in 2015, when they beat Juventus in the final. Their wait for another title has since grown longer, with the Catalan club suffering a quarterfinal exit to Atletico Madrid last season after reaching the semifinals the year before.
The defensive problems that contributed to their 2024-25 semifinal elimination remain one of the biggest questions surrounding Barcelona. Their attacking quality, however, is difficult to overlook, and Flick has several players competing for starting places as he looks to give his team the strongest possible start to their European campaign.
Barcelona and Feyenoord have met only twice, with both encounters coming in the last 16 of the 1974-75 European Cup. Barcelona won 3-0 on aggregate.
Feyenoord arrive in Spain knowing they face one of the toughest assignments in the opening round, but their early-season form offers some encouragement.
The Dutch side have gone unbeaten through their first five matches, winning three, and head into Wednesday’s game after a 3-1 victory over Nijmegen. They have also not lost in any competition, including friendlies, since the start of March.
Feyenoord have their own history of success in Europe’s premier club competition. They became the first Dutch club to win the European Cup in 1970, beating Celtic 2-1 in the final. Ove Kindvall scored the winning goal in extra time, while Ruud Geels and Kindvall were among Feyenoord’s leading scorers during their memorable run.
Their recent European record has been less impressive. Feyenoord failed to advance from the Europa League league phase last season after also falling in the Champions League third qualifying round. Their most recent appearance in the Champions League league stage came in 2024-25, when they advanced to the round of 16 before Inter Milan eliminated them 4-1 on aggregate.
Barcelona will be without Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji, both sidelined with knee injuries, while Eric Garcia is suspended.
Jesse Bisiwu is a doubt after suffering a contusion, although his return to training gives Flick some hope of having him available.
Flick also faces several selection decisions because of the depth and form within his squad. Marc Bernal, Dani Olmo and Karim Adeyemi are among those pushing for starting roles, although all three could begin on the bench.
Garcia’s suspension is expected to give Jules Kounde an opportunity at right-back. Lamine Yamal, Anthony Gordon and Fermin Lopez could also operate behind Raphinha as Barcelona look to use their attacking depth to put Feyenoord under pressure.
Feyenoord have several absentees of their own. Thomas Beelen is out with a broken leg, while Bart Nieuwkoop, Gjis Smal, Jakub Moder and Jordan Bos are also unavailable because of injuries.
One of their biggest threats will be Gjivai Zechiel, who has made an impressive start to the season with four goals and three assists in five appearances. He is expected to retain his place in central midfield.
Luciano Valente has also contributed three goals in five appearances and is in contention to start, while Nacho Ferri could lead the attack.
Shaqueel van Persie, the son of former Netherlands and Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, is expected to begin among the substitutes.
Galatasaray begin their UEFA Champions League campaign Wednesday against Sporting at José Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, with the Turkish champions looking to build on last season’s run while trying to overcome a difficult recent record away from home in Europe.
Galatasaray earned direct entry after winning the 2025-26 Süper Lig title, their fourth consecutive championship.
They are appearing in the competition for the 19th time and will play in the 36-team league phase for the second straight season.
Sporting are also unbeaten this season and have home advantage, along with a strong record against Turkish opposition.
Another step forward
Galatasaray reached the Champions League round of 16 last season after collecting 10 points from eight league-phase matches against Eintracht Frankfurt, Liverpool, Bodø/Glimt, Ajax, Union Saint-Gilloise, Monaco, Atletico Madrid and Manchester City.
They then eliminated Juventus in the knockout playoff before losing to Liverpool in the round of 16.
Coach Okan Buruk’s team will hope to go further this season, but their European away record offers cause for concern. Galatasaray have won only one of their last 15 European away matches, a 3-0 victory over Ajax last season. They have drawn three and lost 11 during that stretch.
Their record against Portuguese clubs is also unfavorable. Galatasaray have faced Benfica, Porto and Braga nine times in UEFA competition, winning three, drawing one and losing five. They are winless in their last five meetings with Portuguese opposition, losing four.
Sporting have won five of their last six matches against Turkish clubs, including their last three.
Unbeaten start, but defensive concerns
Galatasaray have collected 10 points from their first four Süper Lig matches this season. They drew with Arca Çorum FK before beating Erzurumspor FK, Göztepe and Başakşehir, including a 3-2 victory away to Başakşehir in their latest match.
The results have put Galatasaray at the top of the league, but their defense has been vulnerable. They have conceded twice in three of their four matches, with set pieces a particular concern.
That could be costly against a Sporting side that has scored 14 goals in five league matches.
Osimhen among Galatasaray absentees
Galatasaray will be without several key players. Victor Osimhen is expected to miss the match with an adductor injury, while Mario Lemina and Wilfried Singo are also sidelined. Goalkeeper Günay Güvenç is expected to miss out because of a muscle problem.
Osimhen’s absence is especially significant. The Nigeria international has scored six goals in four league appearances, accounting for half of Galatasaray’s 12 goals.
Gabriel Sara and Lucas Torreira will be among those expected to provide more attacking production.
New signing El Chadaille Bitshiabu could make his Galatasaray debut after joining from RB Leipzig on loan. The 21-year-old defender began training with the team Sept. 5 and could provide an option in central defense with Lemina unavailable.
Leao faces his former club
Rafael Leao could make his return to Sporting, where he began his professional career.
The Portuguese forward joined Sporting’s academy in 2012 and reached the first team during the 2017-18 season, making five appearances and scoring twice. He moved to Lille in 2018 before later establishing himself at AC Milan.
Leão’s younger brother, Paulo Simao, remains with Sporting’s under-23 team.
Sporting enter in strong form
Sporting opened their Primeira Liga campaign with a 2-2 draw against Estrela Amadora but have since won four straight matches.
They beat Rio Ave 4-0 before defeating Nacional 2-0 at home, recording consecutive clean sheets. Sporting have scored at least twice in four of their five league matches and sit second with 13 points.
Luis Suarez leads their scoring with four league goals, while Flavio Gonçalves has three and Fotis Ioannidis has two.
Coach Rui Borges also has several promising young players at his disposal, including Gonçalo Inácio, Zeno Debast, Eduardo Quaresma, Maxi Araujo, Sergi Altimira and Rodrigo Zalazar.
Sporting reached the Champions League quarterfinals last season. They won five of eight league-phase matches to finish seventh, advanced directly to the round of 16 and eliminated Bodo/Glimt before losing to Arsenal in the quarterfinals.
First European meeting
Galatasaray and Sporting have never previously met in UEFA competition.
Sporting have faced Kocaelispor, Gençlerbirliği, Beşiktaş and Başakşehir 10 times, winning five, drawing three and losing two.
Sporting will become Galatasaray’s 114th different European opponent and their 341st European match. Galatasaray have won 121 of their previous 340 continental games, drawn 90 and lost 129, scoring 468 goals and conceding 518.
Galatasaray have also played 134 Champions League matches, winning 34, drawing 32 and losing 68.
Difficult Champions League starts
Galatasaray have won only one of their last 10 Champions League opening matches, drawing four and losing five. Their lone victory came in 2018-19, when they beat Lokomotiv Moscow 3-0.
They have also won only seven of their last 30 Champions League group or league-phase matches, alongside six draws and 17 defeats.
Despite those struggles, Galatasaray remain Türkiye’s most successful club in European competition. They won the UEFA Cup in 2000 by beating Arsenal in the final and followed it with the UEFA Süper Cup victory over Real Madrid.
They have also reached the European Cup semifinals once and the Champions League quarterfinals three times.
Galatasaray have scored in each of their last 39 European matches, with their last scoreless game coming in a 0-0 draw against Barcelona in the 2021-22 Europa League.
Buruk has overseen 38 European matches as Galatasaray coach, recording 15 wins, nine draws and 14 defeats.
Türkiye rallied from two sets down to beat Italy 3-2 in a dramatic final in Istanbul on Sunday, successfully defending their European women’s volleyball championship and securing a place at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Playing before a packed crowd at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall, the Turkish women overcame Italy in a thrilling five-set final to claim their second consecutive European title and their second championship overall.
The victory capped a dominant 2026 campaign for the defending champions, who also secured the European crown on home soil after a tournament filled with tense matches and strong performances.
Türkiye reached the final for the fourth time in European Championship history. They finished second in Group A behind Poland with four victories and one loss, defeating Latvia, Slovenia, Hungary and Germany while falling to Poland.
The team then moved through the knockout stage without dropping a set against Azerbaijan, beating them 3-0 in the round of 16. Germany were next, with Türkiye winning 3-1 in the quarterfinals before sweeping Serbia 3-0 in the semifinals.
That set up a final against Italy, and the match lived up to its billing as one of the tournament’s most closely contested encounters.
Daniele Santarelli’s team ultimately prevailed 3-2 to retain the title and add another major trophy to a golden period for Turkish volleyball.
Back-to-back European champions
The championship marked Türkiye’s second straight European title.
The Turkish women won their first European Championship in 2023 and returned to the final this year as defending champions. Their previous appearances in the title match came in 2003 and 2019, when they finished with silver medals.
They also won bronze in 2011, 2017 and 2021.
The latest triumph further strengthened Türkiye’s status as one of the leading powers in international women’s volleyball.
Vargas leads individual honors
Türkiye dominated the tournament’s individual awards after their championship victory.
Melissa Vargas was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and also earned the award for best opposite hitter.
Derya Cebecioğlu was selected as one of the best outside hitters alongside Italy’s Myriam Sylla, while Zehra Güneş was named one of the tournament’s best middle blockers alongside Hena Kurtagic.
Gizem Örge was selected as the best libero, while Elif Şahin was praised for her contribution as the team’s setter.
Santarelli also received the award for best coach after guiding Türkiye to another European title.
Bak praises team’s comeback
Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak watched the final from courtside alongside Istanbul Gov. Davut Gül and Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) President Mehmet Akif Üstündağ.
Bak praised the team’s resilience after they fell behind twice in the final.
“We fell behind twice but knew how to win,” Bak said after the match. “We Turks have a saying: ‘It isn’t over until we say it is over.’ They put up a tremendous fight.”
Bak said the victory had given millions of Turkish fans another reason to celebrate and praised the atmosphere inside the arena.
He said about 17,000 spectators attended the final, describing the crowd as a record and saying CEV officials had told him they had never witnessed an atmosphere like it.
Bak also credited investments in volleyball and sports facilities across Türkiye, while praising the Turkish Volleyball Federation, coaching staff and players for their roles in the championship.
He singled out Vargas, Güneş, Şahin, captain Eda Erdem and Hande Baladın for their performances.
“Vargas being named the MVP is very important,” Bak said. “Zehra, Elif Şahin, our captain despite her age, Hande Baladın and all the other players made tremendous contributions.”
Bak also said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the team to congratulate them after the victory.
“Türkiye is a volleyball country,” Bak said. “We are proving that with our results.”
Fans celebrate across Türkiye
The championship sparked celebrations well beyond the Istanbul arena.
In Istanbul’s Kartal district, hundreds of fans gathered at Neyzen Tevfik Square to watch the final on a giant screen. Supporters waved Turkish flags, sang songs and cheered after every point as Türkiye battled Italy.
Similar scenes unfolded in Mersin, where hundreds of fans watched the final on a giant screen set up near the marina.
The crowd celebrated together after Türkiye completed their comeback, turning the waterfront into a celebration of the team’s latest international success.
“We held our breath watching the women’s success on the coast and celebrated the championship shoulder to shoulder,” Mersin officials said.
The celebrations reflected the growing popularity of women’s volleyball in Türkiye, where the national team has become one of the country’s most successful and closely followed sporting sides.
A bridge becomes a volleyball net
The team’s European triumph was also celebrated with a special visual display on Istanbul’s 15 July Martyrs Bridge.
Adidas, a sponsor of the Turkish national volleyball teams, released a CGI film depicting the iconic bridge transforming into a giant volleyball net.
A huge volleyball appeared in the sky and crossed the net, referencing the point that secured the championship. The film then showed the entire Turkish team alongside the message, “Congratulations, Filenin Sultanları.”
The European title also delivered another major reward for Türkiye: a direct place at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The qualification means the Turkish women will compete at their fourth consecutive Olympic Games and their third in a row.
Türkiye previously competed at London 2012, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
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