Ekrem İmamoğlu visits Dursun Özbek

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu visited Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek. During the meeting held at RAMS Park Stadium, the recent controversies surrounding Turkish football were brought to the agenda.

"WE WILL MEET WITH OUR ATHLETES IN THE 100TH YEAR"

Wishing success to the management, technical staff, and athletes of Galatasaray, which will continue its European journey in the UEFA Europa League, İmamoğlu said:

“I wish for 2024 to be auspicious and fortunate for all of us. There are a few reasons for my visit today. Both to celebrate Galatasaray's successful European journey and the new year. Another dimension is, frankly, as the city of Istanbul, we have a strong decision regarding an Olympic journey. Whenever this topic comes up, whenever we express our initial intent, I state everywhere that Istanbul's three major clubs should be the main locomotives in this journey. Because they are three very valuable brands of our Istanbul.

In this respect, it is our desire to pursue our Olympic journey for 2036 in an ambitious manner. As this year ends, we will hold a meeting that encompasses both the spirit of Olympism and the journey related to the Olympics in the 100th year, involving athletes and the sports world, especially the amateur branches you just mentioned. There, in the 100th year, we will meet with our Olympic athletes. You will receive our invitation regarding this matter. We very much desire for you to be there, and especially for the athletes to participate.”

"ZERO TOLERANCE SHOULD BE EXERCISED"

Expressing his views on the problems Turkish football has faced recently, İBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu said, “The incident our referee experienced, and the subsequent events of withdrawing from the field last night… None of these are situations that Turkish football should ever experience. No matter what, there are no ‘buts’ or ‘ifs’ about this. Sports and football are beautiful with their rules. There will be shortcomings, there will be mistakes. There always have been. There will be again. It happens in the world too. To fix these, one must come together and talk. You will certainly come, and you are coming.

Zero tolerance should be exercised. Football and sports must be left to be played with their rules, as they are played on the field, with their shortcomings, excesses, mistakes, and truths. We hope these behaviors will come to an end. Here, of course, the task falls to valuable communities like yours. We expect you to be the pioneer and locomotive of this effort. We already know your sportsmanship. We hope you will spread and grow this to all communities. It is our wish that these ugly scenes are never experienced again,” he concluded.

"IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO APPROVE OF THE EVENTS"

Thanking İmamoğlu for his visit, Özbek made criticisms without naming names, referring to the assault on referee Halil Umut Meler by Ankaragücü's resigned president Faruk Koca and those accompanying him. Özbek stated:

"There is something called the Olympic spirit. The Olympic spirit is actually an event that embodies sportsmanship. Therefore, it is impossible to approve of the events that have taken place on the fields in recent days, especially those related to football. I mean, saying ‘I wish it hadn't happened’ is already too late. We must find a way to take precautions as soon as possible. The organization you will carry out for the Olympics is, of course, very important for Istanbul. It is twice as important for Galatasaray. Because Galatasaray is the first club to bring the Olympic games to Turkey. Therefore, it is impossible for Galatasaray to remain indifferent to this issue.”

News Source: 12punto