The Cyprus Turkish Football Association's (KTFF) attempt to join the ranks of the South Cyprus Football Association (KOP) has led to a reaction from the Deputy Minister and Minister for Economy, Tourism, Culture and Sports Serdar Denktaş. He sent a letter to members of the KTFF voicing his concern regarding the membership, according to Bayrak Radyo Televizyon Kurumu. In his letter, Denktaş said that seeing the KOP as the liberation of Turkish Cypriot football means "the failure and the suicide of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) football." He called for the clubs to take the issue of joining the KOP to their own respective general assemblies before voting on it at the Cyprus Turkish Football Association's general assembly. Denktaş also referred to previous statements made by the head of the KTFF Hasan Sertoğlu that the government had not dealt with any of their problems and said that this was unrealistic and aimed only to misdirect the football clubs and the public. "During the time that was given to us we met with high ranking officials from the Turkish Football Federation and are continuing to search for solutions," said Denktaş.