Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek compares Fenerbahçe President Ali Koç to a 'terrorist': 'This is terrorism'

The tension between Fenerbahçe President Ali Koç and Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek remains high following the 37th-week match played between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, which Fenerbahçe won 0-1.

Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek met with some congress members and made statements.

Özbek said the following:

"THE ELECTION NO LONGER MATTERS!"

"The election no longer matters. Either I get elected or Süheyl Batum gets elected; we are both Galatasaray fans. The collective struggle has surpassed everything else. We must show all communities and all of Turkey that Ali Koç is only concerned with the election. I have no doubt that whoever is elected will act with a love for Galatasaray."

"THIS IS TERRORISM"

"We left the stadium together. Two hours later, I received news on the road and returned. Ali Koç came with 70-80 men, 4 of whom were armed. This is a disgrace. It is banditry. This is what we call urban banditry. I'll take it further; this is terrorism. What does a terrorist do? They gather their armed men in a similar way, come, raid a place, and open fire."

Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek compares Fenerbahçe President Ali Koç to a 'terrorist': 'This is terrorism' https://t.co/xai3iWBeY1 pic.twitter.com/4rz5AUtceS

— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) May 20, 2024

"HE COULD NOT HAVE STEPPED INSIDE WITHOUT TRAMPLING OVER MY DEAD BODY"

"Perhaps my absence there prevented the events from escalating to a higher level. If I had been there, he could not have stepped inside without trampling over my dead body."

"I WILL HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ONE BY ONE"

Ali Koç, I am telling you from here today. I will hold you accountable for these actions one by one. These actions of yours will not go unpunished. You will pay the price for this show you put on to win the election today, tomorrow, and forever. All of Turkey will learn that you are a project designed to pit communities against each other.

"IT WON'T WORK ON ME, I AM THE PRESIDENT OF GALATASARAY"

All these things you do won't work on me; I am the president of Galatasaray. I also have a message for our fans and members: No election is more valuable to us than this championship. Our only concentration is our 24th championship. As of today, we have stopped all meetings we were holding for the election.

"WE WILL BE CHAMPIONS"

We will stand by our players and our coach. Let no one worry, goodness will win again, and we will be champions.

This is all they can do. To create chaos, tension, and take the situation outside of football. The player you mentioned, I don't want to say his name. Since the warm-up, this is all they can do. To create chaos, tension, and move the event outside of football.

"YOU ARE A PROJECT DESIGNED TO MAKE COMMUNITIES FIGHT EACH OTHER"

On an empty pitch, with armed bodyguards by your side, 70-80 hangers-on... This job has a status. This is a stadium belonging to Galatasaray. The people who enter the accreditation area are known. Even I cannot enter for a certain period. You come in as if trespassing on a property. And not alone. Armed bodyguards, 80 people, the stadium is empty. What is this if not fake bravado? I said it before, you are a project designed to make communities fight each other.

"WHO WILL ANSWER FOR THIS?"

It is a great shame; Ali Koç is a member of an important family. He is someone who has received a good education. The power of his family is clear. To attempt such a thing behind this power, to embark on such a thing, to pit people against each other—who can answer for this! When such an incident occurs tomorrow, won't there be those who want to take advantage of the situation? You are creating this tension; will it only stay at this level? If there are those who want to take advantage of this situation, who will answer for it! Shame on you, what a shame!

"WHAT ARE YOU RELYING ON?"

7-8 people are ganging up on a child. Is there such a thing in manliness? Is there such a thing in sports management? Look at where they are taking these events. Didn't he say to the TFF, 'Go and rough up the referees'? Didn't he say to the İzmir group, 'Do this, do that'? Didn't he say, 'Take photos in shopping malls'? What kind of sportsmanship is this? What are you relying on?

"THIS IS NOT A GOOD DIRECTION"

This is not a good direction. Review the events of the last 6 months. Not taking the field... Watch the events since Riyadh. Always a provocation, always trying to pit the nation against each other, always chasing something. This is not a good direction. I am addressing my state from here.

"IT IS NOTHING SHORT OF TREASON TO THE HOMELAND"

"Where does he get the courage? Ordinary citizens cannot dare to do this. How is this happening? What did you gain, Mr. Ali? Trying to divide society and sow seeds of hostility within society is nothing short of treason to the homeland."

"The style he wants is not what we Galatasaray fans want, that's why we can't meet. How can one talk to this man? I ask, what was your goal? You are going to enter the election, maybe you will tell it as a heroic story in the election. Fake bravado in an empty space is easy. No one is there. You come, do your bravado there, and leave. If you associate the title of 'tough guy' with yourself, you should come and do it when the owner of the place is there."

News Source: 12punto