Ömer Riza
Encyclopedia
Ömer Kerim Ali Rıza is a footballer who plays for Histon
as a striker.
, London
, of Turkish Cypriot descent, Rıza started his career as a youth with English
club Arsenal
and made his first team debut on 2 November 1998 against Derby County
in the League Cup
. He also travelled with the team on away fixtures against Dynamo Kyiv
and Panathinaikos
as a substitute in the UEFA Champions League
. With few first team opportunities at Arsenal, during the 1998–99 season he went on loan to ADO Den Haag
for three months.
In the 1999–2000 season, he moved to West Ham United
, but again was unable to break into the first team. He went on loan to Barnet
and Cambridge United
, and signed a permanent deal with the latter in 2002. During the 2002–03 season he scored 17 goals for United, which prompted a move to Süper Lig side Denizlispor
during the 2003 close season. In January 2006, he signed for Trabzonspor
. In January 2008 Rıza walked out of the club claiming he had not been paid. The Turkish Football Federation
banned him from playing for any club.
In February 2009 Rıza returned to English football with a trial at League Two
club Shrewsbury Town
, and impressed manager Paul Simpson
, but Rıza could not take part in any official matches due to the ban imposed upon him by the TFF. The players legal representatives submitted a case to football's World governing body FIFA
in early April 2009, from which a Swiss judge over ruled the TFF decision, on 17 April, that Rıza shall be allowed to compete in English football. Rıza made his debut for Shrewsbury Town as a second half substitute against Rotherham United
the following day. The case with the club and TFF continues, with the player and his legal team awaiting for FIFA to make a decision on the restriction.
On 22 January 2010, he left Shrewsbury Town after struggling to break into the first team during the first half of the season, with Riza and the club coining to an agreement regarding paying off the rest of his contract. On 25 February he joined Aldershot Town
until the end of the season. Following the appointment of David Livermore
as manager at Histon
, Riza joined Histon on a non-contract basis and made his debut against Kettering Town
in a Conference National
fixture on 28 August. He scored his first goal for Histon when he scored a penalty in their league match against Hayes & Yeading United
, which turned out to be the winning goal.
Histon F.C.
Histon Football Club is an English football club based in the twin villages of Histon and Impington, approximately north of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. From the 2007–08 season they competed in the Conference National, the highest level that the club has ever reached in the English football league...
as a striker.
Career
Born in EdmontonEdmonton, London
Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, of Turkish Cypriot descent, Rıza started his career as a youth with English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
club Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and made his first team debut on 2 November 1998 against Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
. He also travelled with the team on away fixtures against Dynamo Kyiv
FC Dynamo Kyiv
FC Dynamo Kyiv is a professional football club based in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Founded in 1927, the club currently participates in the Ukrainian Premier League and has spent its entire history in the top league of Soviet and later Ukrainian football...
and Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
as a substitute in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. With few first team opportunities at Arsenal, during the 1998–99 season he went on loan to ADO Den Haag
ADO Den Haag
Alles Door Oefening Den Haag , commonly known by the abbreviated name ADO Den Haag , is a Dutch football club from the city of The Hague. The club was for a time known as FC Den Haag , with ADO representing the amateur branch of the club...
for three months.
In the 1999–2000 season, he moved to West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, but again was unable to break into the first team. He went on loan to Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
and Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
, and signed a permanent deal with the latter in 2002. During the 2002–03 season he scored 17 goals for United, which prompted a move to Süper Lig side Denizlispor
Denizlispor
Denizlispor is a sports club based in Denizli, Turkey. It is known by its distinct green and black colors. The club's branches include football, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, chess, and gymnastics...
during the 2003 close season. In January 2006, he signed for Trabzonspor
Trabzonspor
Trabzonspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Trabzon, Turkey. Formed in 1967 through a merger of several local clubs, Trabzonspor won six championships in Turkish Super League. The Club won their first Championship title in 1975 which is also the Club's initiation year...
. In January 2008 Rıza walked out of the club claiming he had not been paid. The Turkish Football Federation
Turkish Football Federation
The Turkish Football Federation , also called the Turkish Football Association, is the governing body of football in Turkey. It was formed on 23 April 1923. It organizes the Turkish national teams and the Turkish football league. By 2004, there were 4,956 football clubs organized in Turkey, and a...
banned him from playing for any club.
In February 2009 Rıza returned to English football with a trial at League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
club Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
, and impressed manager Paul Simpson
Paul Simpson (footballer)
Paul David Simpson is an English former footballer and manager. His son Jake is also a professional footballer.-Manchester City:...
, but Rıza could not take part in any official matches due to the ban imposed upon him by the TFF. The players legal representatives submitted a case to football's World governing body FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
in early April 2009, from which a Swiss judge over ruled the TFF decision, on 17 April, that Rıza shall be allowed to compete in English football. Rıza made his debut for Shrewsbury Town as a second half substitute against Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
the following day. The case with the club and TFF continues, with the player and his legal team awaiting for FIFA to make a decision on the restriction.
On 22 January 2010, he left Shrewsbury Town after struggling to break into the first team during the first half of the season, with Riza and the club coining to an agreement regarding paying off the rest of his contract. On 25 February he joined Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
until the end of the season. Following the appointment of David Livermore
David Livermore
David Livermore is an English footballer who is currently player-manager of Histon. He plays as a midfielder.-Career:Born in Edmonton, London, Livermore previously played for Millwall, where he was captain, and as a trainee at Arsenal...
as manager at Histon
Histon F.C.
Histon Football Club is an English football club based in the twin villages of Histon and Impington, approximately north of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. From the 2007–08 season they competed in the Conference National, the highest level that the club has ever reached in the English football league...
, Riza joined Histon on a non-contract basis and made his debut against Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
in a Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
fixture on 28 August. He scored his first goal for Histon when he scored a penalty in their league match against Hayes & Yeading United
Hayes & Yeading United F.C.
Hayes & Yeading United F.C. are an English football club based in Woking in Surrey. They were formed in May 2007 following a merger of Hayes and Yeading. They play at the Kingfield Stadium agreeing a groundshare with Woking-History:...
, which turned out to be the winning goal.