He said 'Champion Cimbom' days before the derby: Reaction to Osman Aşkın Bak from Erdoğan's childhood friend

Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak's statement at the Galatasaray Aslantepe Valley groundbreaking ceremony, "We will continue to work together for Turkish sports, for the great Galatasaray, for champion Cimbom, and for the Turkish National Team," has become the focus of the football agenda. The phrase "champion Cimbom" used by Minister Bak caused discomfort among many football fans, especially Fenerbahçe supporters, ahead of the derby match.

Following the rise in expectations regarding the issue, Minister Bak issued a statement, noting that his words were misunderstood, that he supports all of Turkish sports, and that he did not intend to compromise his impartiality.

Former AKP Istanbul Deputy and Central Decision and Executive Board (MKYK) member Metin Külünk reacted harshly to Minister Bak's words on social media. In his statement, Külünk said, "The phrase 'Champion Cimbom,' regardless of the context in which it was said, creates a single thought in the minds of millions of fans during derby week: Could our league be biased?" He also expressed the view that such expressions harm the President's struggle based on justice and fairness.

According to Külünk, trust in society is one of the most important elements of football; emphasizing that this should not be damaged, Külünk stated, "Our Minister of Sports' most fundamental responsibility is impartiality, and our nation wants to believe that our Minister is truly impartial."

In his statement, Külünk included the following: "There are things that should never happen before or after a derby. As long as a FETÖ purge is not carried out in football, the shadow over football will not be lifted. Our Minister of Sports' most fundamental responsibility is impartiality, and our nation wants to believe that our Minister is truly impartial. The phrase 'Champion Cimbom' by Minister Osman Aşkın Bak, regardless of the context in which it was said, creates a single thought in the minds of millions of fans during derby week: 'Could our league be biased?' Naturally, this situation makes it impossible for fans of Galatasaray, Beşiktaş, Trabzon, and teams in all leagues, not just Fenerbahçe fans, to look at the issue solely with the thought of competition. The issue is believing that the struggle on the field is fair. Because football is not just 90 minutes. It is trust. It is justice. It is equality."

In the continuation of his statement, Külünk said the following:

"That is why a minister who represents public power through politics and the ballot box should have calculated how every word he used would resonate, especially in such a critical week, right!? The intention might be good, it might not be bad. Even if it were expressed with good intentions, frankly, it has caused very serious damage to the struggle waged by the President, especially on the basis of justice and football club fans. However, the weight of the office is not limited to intention. Today, the issue might seem like just a sentence. But such expressions damage the sense of trust in an already sensitive competitive environment. In these difficult days that our country and the world are going through, the last thing desired is for our people to be dragged into chaos. And everyone should know that FETÖ and its collaborative elements are looking for opportunities and pursuing a civil war scenario, and one must act by observing this fundamental sensitivity. We know that the Minister is very sensitive in this regard. It should not be forgotten that Fenerbahçe emerged unscathed from an attack like July 3 and fought at the forefront against the treacherous terrorist organization 'FETÖ'. Of course, all clubs should repeatedly review and carry out their own internal FETÖ purges. Especially the referee debate must end. Everyone should be aware of what FETÖ is planning through football. Therefore, the expectation is very clear: An openness that will lift the shadow over sports, and a correction if necessary. It should not be forgotten that justice begins not only on the field but also in discourse."

News Source: 12punto