Victims of age restrictions in Turkish football: a study on the social consequences of the application

Abstract

In this study, it is intended to reveal sociological effects of quota on Turkish football, and how football players have been affected since it was applied in Third League in Turkey in 2008. research method is designed as qualitative. This method was applied as data collection tools such as questionnaire, scale, etc. in quantitative methods provide only specific options to subjects and that creates limitations on research problems concerning events and processes in carrying out this method. Research data was collected through using technique, one of most widely used method of data collection in qualitative research. Subjects are players who cannot play in third league due to “age quota Semi-structured in-depth interview was conducted to 10 people. research sample was determined by theoretical sampling. As a result of interviews with subjects, after putting records down into paper from voice recorder, two themes were identified based on concepts and ideas that subjects' narratives focused: 1 The inability to play in third 2 The quality of football has decreased. Under theme of the inability to play in third league, there are ones who have to leave league after rule applied and hence join to amateurs and ones who cannot play in third league due to rule although they get best offers from third league teams while playing at higher leagues. Another outstanding finding under this theme is assertion that there is a fall in wages of footballers put forward by subjects after quota rule applied. It is revealed that subjects’ living conditions have also been affected in negative sense and some of them state that they have some psychological problems after rule. Under theme of “the quality of football has decreased , main reasons of quality decrease are indicated as experienced players of older ages having to leave clubs due to age limit and majority of young inexperienced players in third league. In current situation, that national team squad consists of players who come from youth setup of big teams in super league rather than young players is an evidence of falling short of goal that third league creates a source for national team by giving more space to young players by quota rule. Age quota restriction on amateur football is seen as an application which does not overlap with philosophy of amateurism and prevents people of all ages to participate in sports as a human right