The Turkish Football Federation spokesperson Turker Tozar weighed in on the prospect of a September encounter with Russia back in 2023, offering clarity about official schedules and the bigger backdrop surrounding any potential bilateral match. He stressed that for the month of September there were already concrete commitments on Turkey’s calendar. The national team had Euro 2024 qualifying duties in the works, with a match against Armenia slated for September 8, and a friendly against Japan lined up for September 12. In that moment Tozar did not close the door on a future meeting with Russia, but he underscored the practical realities that come with international calendars and federation priorities. He admitted that predicting such potential outcomes could be premature and that any decision would hinge on evolving circumstances and strategic considerations within the Turkish program, FIFA, and UEFA. The emphasis was on maintaining focus on the immediate fixtures and the long term plan rather than speculating about if and when a Russian opponent might appear on the schedule, and he indicated that comments would be contingent on future developments rather than a firm forecast.
