Amedspor Chairman Explains Dia Saba Jersey Number Controversy After Turkish League Win

Three days after Amedspor's 3-0 victory over Erzurumspor in the Turkish league opener, the celebration by Israeli player Dia Saba continues to attract media attention. Saba scored two goals in the match and celebrated by signaling the number 10 with his hands, which sparked internal debate within the club regarding his jersey number. Following the departure of Cekdar Orhan, the number 10 jersey became a coveted item, and Saba, a key player, had formally requested to wear it. However, the club management initially denied his request, reserving the number for Samuel Ballet, a Swiss winger acquired for 1.6 million euros from Antalyaspor.

Saba's message extended beyond the field; he posted the celebration gesture on Instagram and later shared it again with the caption "10". In response, Amedspor chairman Nahit Eran addressed the controversy, explaining that during negotiations for Ballet's transfer, the club received a request from Ballet's mother to assign him the number 10 jersey. Eran acknowledged that the club may have unintentionally offended Saba due to a lack of understanding about how important the number was to him. The club's explanation highlights the complexity behind the jersey number assignment and the sensitivity surrounding it.