ANKARA, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President Yildirim Demiroren announced his resignation on Thursday.

"I have decided to leave this national duty, which I carried out honorably and proudly until today in order to prevent any shadows and debates in Turkey's public and the international arena," he said in a written statement.

Demiroren has served for seven years as the head of Turkish football's governing body since February 2012.

Local media said that Demiroren stepped down amid mounting criticism over his company Demiroren Holding winning a tender to run Turkey's only legal sports betting firm Iddaa. Inteltek, the only other bidder which has operated Iddaa since 2008, objected to the transfer.

TFF Vice President Husnu Gureli will be in charge until the new president is elected in June 2019.