Ali Koç: Just as we paid off the club's debts, we will pay off the championship debt

The Ordinary Elective General Assembly Meeting of Fenerbahçe Sports Club is being held at the Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Sports Complex. On the first day of the election, after the discussion of the agenda items, the speeches of the presidential candidates began. Following Fenerbahçe Presidential Candidate Sadettin Saran, President Ali Koç took the podium.

Starting his speech by thanking the congress members for their support of Fenerbahçe democracy, President Koç said, "Fenerbahçe elections are the most followed and most democratic among all clubs. I believe that no matter what the result is at this time tomorrow, we must unite as a whole community around our president. We will go to the ballot box once again tomorrow, and I see that we are seriously polarized as a community. For instance, while we should unanimously approve someone who engages in black-market ticket sales, we can cast a favorable vote for someone who has uttered unspeakable insults at the Fenerbahçe presidency office by a majority vote.

This shows the point our community is currently at. I look at Fenerbahçe Presidential Candidate Sadettin Saran and his potential board of directors; they do not raise their hands for a person who has insulted the presidency office. This is the point we have reached. Tomorrow's ballot is not just any election; it is an election to protect the future of our Fenerbahçe. I want to add this to what Mr. Sadettin said: yes, 'are we going to throw ourselves into an uncertain adventure from scratch' or will we reap the fruits of the struggle fought with patience?

We will decide this tomorrow. Because, although I will touch upon our differences of opinion, know this; we are candidates in a real sense. We are not candidates who have pretended to be candidates for years, then did not run, and are now running only because it would be shameful not to. We have been fighting with our lives, our blood, and our reputation for 7 years. Remember that we are all in the same boat. The desire of those who support Mr. Sadettin and Mr. Aziz is also the interests of Fenerbahçe, for Fenerbahçe to always be good, to always be healthy. However, we walked together on a difficult path, experienced storms, and fought great battles. The 21st century did not smile upon our Fenerbahçe as we desired.

No matter how much it went off the rails, we never gave up on the fight we gave for Fenerbahçe, we were not afraid, we did not hesitate. We did not act based on what this person or that person would say. No matter what, we experienced the pride of keeping our club clean and standing tall in this dirty football world. As I just stated, we did not allow our Fenerbahçe to be mentioned with sponsors linked to the stock market or betting businesses. We did not try to save the day. We thought we would win the future," he said.

"WE COMPLETED THE REPAIR PERIOD OF FENERBAHÇE, WE TOOK THE STEPS OF THE BREAKTHROUGH PERIOD"

Pointing out that the Fenerbahçe President will not work for the election but for his club, Koç said, "We did not chase populist promises. We have completed the repair period for Fenerbahçe, which we took over under very difficult conditions, and have taken the steps for the breakthrough period. As far as I understand, financial independence has no value for you, but we reached it step by step. We started major moves for the foundations of the future in terms of facilities. Now it is time for the championship in football. Just as we paid off the club's debts, we will pay off the championship debt.

With the strengthened board of directors, I believe we are the strongest team to make Fenerbahçe a champion in every field. The rejection of articles 11, 12, and 13 has blocked the path of whoever will manage as president tomorrow. I called Mr. Sadettin, I told him, and he agreed. I said, 'You support it.' Because this article has been an agenda item in 6 separate general assemblies. It is incomprehensible that it is positioned as an article to be feared by some today. You friends who are aspiring to Fenerbahçe tomorrow applauded this by jumping, but you are not aware of what you are applauding. The Fenerbahçe President does not work for the election.

He works for Fenerbahçe, he speaks with his actions. I did not say 7 years ago, 'I have taken over the club closest to bankruptcy in Europe.' I took responsibility when the club was in its worst state. I did not come out saying I would be a candidate many times and then turn back. Last year, Mr. Sadettin said, 'You should continue.' He said if you run, I will withdraw, and he kept his word. But before that, he said 'I will be a candidate many times,' but he did not. I became a candidate during the worst period. I did not become a presidential candidate based on what this or that person would say. There is no value in closing 208 million Euros of debt in 7 years.

There is no value in creating an independent Fenerbahçe. At the point we have reached today, financial discipline has been achieved. The Fenerbahçe that was managed like a grocery store until yesterday has no value for you. Fenerbahçe is a massive institution. As Fenerbahçe, we must improve our global brand effectiveness in the medium term. We need to increase the number of large companies.

We have sponsorship agreements with 2 world-class companies in our hands. We expressed the figures corresponding to this year; we did not block the future. Our fans want to see star players, the market has changed, those old figures are gone. We also talked to Mr. Sadettin. It is not like in your time; doors open at 20 million. If the economy is not good, you cannot make this sustainable. If you want permanent success, you must have financial power. Every day, the amateurs have a story," he said.

"WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROTECT OUR RIGHTS AS WE SHOULD"

Addressing the congress members who criticized him, President Koç said, "If there is no financial success behind increasing a team worth 70 million to 300 million Euros, then what is there? I respect the opinions of our congress members who criticize us, but did we never do anything right? Did we never have an action that you would give us credit for when you came up here? I see. While achieving all these successes, while carrying out good work, we did not create financial resources that would make the community bow its head. We did not use the money in our treasury for our personal needs. We increased Fenerbahçe's revenues and achieved a healthy economy. It was precisely during this breakthrough period that our Fenerbahçe was attacked more than ever before. The attacks that we described to you as organized evil serve only one purpose. Efforts to divide our community with 'divide and conquer.' As we divide, we will become fragile, and we will not be able to protect our rights as we should. We will not be able to speak up against favors to rivals. Mr. Sadettin, Ali Koç, it does not matter. Whoever is at the head of this community, we must unite around them and give strength to our administrations. Our young members may not remember, but those of appropriate age surely have not forgotten. On July 3, there is a historic quote by Aziz Yıldırım. 'What match-fixing, the country is slipping away,' and it was almost slipping away. While the known organization was trying to take over Fenerbahçe with the state power it had behind it, our community poured into the streets, and while fighting an epic struggle, the enemies of Fenerbahçe in the media at that time shared the details of the investigation in full detail despite the confidentiality order," he said.

"WE WILL BE CHAMPIONS THIS YEAR"

Stating that being the President of Fenerbahçe is a heavy responsibility, Ali Koç said the following:

"It has been 7 years. Until this season, we had never promised you a championship. But I can say that we have now fulfilled all the conditions to promise a championship, that we have built the squad accordingly, that we have strengthened our financial situation accordingly, and that we have planted seeds accordingly. We will be champions this year. All the struggles we have fought will make that championship much more meaningful. When that day comes, Fenerbahçe will not just be a champion; it will be the name of an epic. I want you to know that if we cannot be champions when May comes, we will fulfill the requirements of the conditions. Let no one worry; our struggle against those who put obstacles in the way of any fair competition in Turkish football will continue until the end. No one has covered the distance we have covered against the 'structure.' Being the President of Fenerbahçe is a heavy responsibility. This responsibility is not a place for personal calculations and polemics. This responsibility means carrying the honor of millions. We do not have the right to put the future of Fenerbahçe into uncertainty. As we came to these days, we never led our Fenerbahçe into dark paths. We did not take any steps that would get it into trouble. We have come to these days by bearing the responsibility of managing Fenerbahçe."

Ali Koç responded to the allegation regarding the check issue, saying, "No one has failed to get their money back during my term at Fenerbahçe." He stated that they sold 250 thousand season tickets during their administration and that those who had their tickets canceled were the ones saying 'Let's raid Samandıra' and those who threw lighters onto the pitch during the Sevilla match.

Saying, "I invite you to fight together to reach the goal," the president of the yellow-navies said, "We will either prefer populist rhetoric that tries to save the day, or we will walk with firm steps on the path of an independent, strong, champion Fenerbahçe. As a fan, my only desire from the Fenerbahçe President is to overcome all difficulties and make this team a champion. Now, as the Fenerbahçe President, I am addressing you, our congress members who have come here, and the Fenerbahçe fans scattered to every corner of the world. We will make Fenerbahçe a champion. While doing this, we will become champions by striking and breaking the structure, the trolls, the dark hands, those who attack Fenerbahçe, and those who turn it into rent. If we cannot, we will settle accounts with you in May. The decision is yours; I call on our entire community to protect our club at a new historic turning point. When the time comes in the stands, when the time comes on social media, when the time comes on the street, when the time comes at the ballot box, we leave this struggle for the unity and independence of Fenerbahçe to the will of our congress members, who are the true owners of our club. We have a strong future ahead of us. We will build this future together. My request from my congress members is to think about the future, not the grievances. Come, let us continue this journey together. Come, let us leave a strong Fenerbahçe, a champion Fenerbahçe, to our children and grandchildren together. When we are united, no power can stand in front of Fenerbahçe. Let us unite, long live Fenerbahçe," he concluded.

News Source: İHA