Berke Özer Faces Disciplinary Action After Abrupt Departure from Turkiye Camp

Key Takeaways:

• Berke Özer left Turkiye’s national team camp in Istanbul following a 6:1 victory over Bulgaria, citing dissatisfaction with his role as a reserve
• The Turkish Football Federation has stated his actions are unacceptable and plans to refer him to the Disciplinary Committee
• Özer defended himself on Instagram, explaining he had notified staff about his condition before joining the squad

Incident in the Turkish National Team Camp

Turkish goalkeeper Berke Özer, who plays for Lille, has departed the national side’s training camp just one day after Turkiye’s emphatic 6:1 win over Bulgaria. The 25-year-old reportedly left due to being dissatisfied with his status as a reserve during the fixture. The Turkish Federation has voiced strong disapproval of this behaviour, particularly amid efforts to secure qualification for the World Cup.

Berke Özer, dün oynanan Bulgaristan maçının kadrosuna alınmadığı için Milli Takım kampını izinsiz terk etti. pic.twitter.com/2Pp1HfYATT

— Pusholder (@pusholder) October 12, 2025

Reactions from the Turkish Federation and Özer’s Defence

The Turkish Football Federation released an official statement regarding Berke Özer’s conduct, stating: “At a time when we are trying our best to qualify for the World Cup, such behaviour is unacceptable.” The Federation confirmed Özer departed following the team’s return to Istanbul and did not obtain permission from the coaching staff. They highlighted that his exit related directly to his exclusion from the squad in the match against Bulgaria.

In response, the Lille goalkeeper posted on Instagram defending his actions. Özer wrote that he had notified the staff about his pain and physical condition before joining the national team. He asserted that if he was not involved with the squad, it would be preferable for him to rest and recover. He further clarified: “So as not to affect the team’s mood, I announced my intentions to the technical staff upon returning to Istanbul, and not during or after the match.”

Coaching Decisions and Team Dynamics

According to reports in the local press, Berke Özer struggled to come to terms with head coach Vincenzo Montella’s decision to select Galatasaray’s Ugurcan Cakir ahead of him. It has been indicated that Özer informed only the goalkeeping coaches regarding his departure, leaving the broader technical staff unaware of his intentions at the time.

Potential Disciplinary Measures and Implications

The Turkish Federation has announced plans to bring Berke Özer before the Disciplinary Committee for his absence from an international match without formal permission. FIFA regulations specify: “Players who, without a valid reason, do not participate in an official international match may be banned from competing for a period between two months and one year.” If Özer is officially sanctioned by the Turkish Federation and the case is escalated to FIFA, there exists a possibility that any enforced suspension could extend to his club appearances for Lille, impacting his professional career beyond Turkiye.