Hakan Söyler: ‘Football would be a better place if everyone was like Veli Kavlak’ [divider]

Adana Demirspor Hakan Söyler praised Beşiktaş midfielder Veli Kavlak for persuading the referee not to send him off following the Turkish Cup game.

Söyler was sent off by referee Suat Arslanboğa for a challenge on Kavlak. However, the red card was rescinded when Kavlak informed the referee that no contact was made.

“I wish everybody was like Veli Kavlak in football,” Söyler said.

“Football would be a better place if everyone was like Veli.

“As players we are so used to opposition players cheating and trying to deceive the referee into getting players sent off and win fouls that I could not believe it. 

“The referee made a mistake, it probably looked like a foul from his angle but I did not touch Veli. 

“There was no malice in the challenge. 

“I want to thank Veli, he acted in a way we are not used to anymore, there is a lot of talk about good sportsmanship and fair play but these are just words. 

“What Veli done is real fair play.”