Message from Ali Koç to the AKP: 'They must decide whether they want to take on a community of 25 million'

Ali Koç lashed out at Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç, who became the subject of controversy with his 'match-fixing' remarks. The Fenerbahçe President, stating that "Our interlocutor is the AKP," said, "They must decide whether they want to take on 25 million fans."

Fenerbahçe President Ali Koç was a guest on a live TRT Spor broadcast. Ali Koç made statements regarding his candidacy in the Extraordinary Elective General Assembly.

"FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE IS PERCEIVED AS ZERO DEBT"

Answering the question, "They say the club wouldn't function without Ali Koç, salaries wouldn't be paid. Does Fenerbahçe still need a strong economic figure?" Ali Koç spoke as follows:

"I would never say such a thing in my life. I wouldn't say I did this or that. I am not that kind of person. This was the silent struggle we waged while Fenerbahçe was achieving its financial freedom. We reduced our credit debt from 347 million to 69 million. Liabilities of over 383 million euros, debts outside of credit institutions, have dropped to 220 million. There will always be debt. You sign 3-5 year contracts, it will happen. Financial independence is the club making its own financial decisions. People perceive this as zero debt. When we build the stadium tomorrow, the 100 million dollar project and the revenue that the extra 15 thousand capacity will bring make it 'credible'.

"FENERBAHÇE WOULD FUNCTION EVEN WITHOUT ALI KOÇ"

Financial freedom is not zero debt. It is a point where you can make your own financial decisions. It is the ability to use 100 percent of your revenue. We have been using 50 percent for 2 years. Fenerbahçe would function somehow even without Ali Koç. What I am trying to explain is that the dimensions have changed. In the past, our most successful branch, men's basketball, posted deficits of 15-16 million Euros. Mr. Sertaç reduced the deficit to 6 million Euros.

"FENERBAHÇE NEEDS THE SUPPORT OF ITS MANAGEMENT"

We go door to door like beggars. We ask for support from Fenerbahçe businessmen. They also know that we are making many sacrifices. Fenerbahçe Sports Club is a perfectly functioning club. It reached its best point in history when no president or manager was transferring resources. We are far from that point now. Fenerbahçe currently needs the support of its management. Football is a profitable branch up until the interest payments. There is interest, there are other branches, and there is a need for resources for new projects. I am proud of my team; revenue has gone from 175 to 300 million. We also paid off some of the debt on the land, which had been purchased with credit. In the short term, financial independence; in the medium to long term, not just Fenerbahçe, but all clubs must sustain themselves with their own revenues. We are not there yet.

"MY PERSONAL SUPPORT WILL NOT CONTINUE"

The reason we are not holding elections in June and are pushing them to September has two reasons. One is season planning. The struggle we have been giving for 7 years, we were exhausted, it was to finish this process. That's how our whole summer passed. As of the point we have reached, we are exiting the Banks Association with the process we designed. Mr. Sadettin and his team, how they view financial matters, according to them there is no resource problem. My personal support will not continue, but we have sponsor support and agreements. It will continue as long as it lasts. We would always be sponsors even when I was not in the management. It would not be right to give the livelihood of our children at this point. I don't like talking about this."

"THE MAYOR'S UNCONSCIOUS STATEMENT LIT THE FUSE"

Touching upon the tension between the two communities following the controversial 'match-fixing' remarks by Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç after the Fenerbahçe-Trabzonspor match, Ali Koç said, "We had dinner with Mr. Ertuğrul 1 hour before the match. Are we going back to July 3rd, is that business resurfacing? The reckless mayor's unconscious statement lit the fuse. It's not his first statement. He is a lawyer. It is worth looking into July 3rd and his lawyer's FETÖ partnership. Fenerbahçe straightened its back, reached a point financially, fixed its squad, is it July 3rd again! Before July 3rd, Fenerbahçe's value was 1 billion dollars, we went 5 for 5 in all branches. What happened afterwards is known. One of them, the man who signed what the prosecutor put in front of him, praised the police, and cursed us, is becoming a candidate. Unfortunately, because he said he would make him deputy chairman, Mr. Sadettin's stance was not good either at that time. I'm not talking about the radio, an interview came from Zaman newspaper. He says the same thing, he says the community, etc., there was match-fixing. I couldn't believe he said that. Other images also surfaced. If he is going to walk the path with Hakan Bilal Kutlualp, whom I am so obsessed with... I lived through the bottom of July 3rd. We were 5-6 people left in the club. Every day I would put jeans, t-shirts, socks, and sneakers outside. Just in case they came, let's be prepared. The children's lives were ruined at school. We ate gas on the street, we were injured for the sake of the struggle. These men did nothing. Suddenly I look, is something being resurrected again? Who is the metropolitan mayor, he is talking. Look at your own partner before you talk."

"THE AKP HAS TO DO SOMETHING"

Ali Koç also stated that their primary interlocutor is the AKP and said the following:

"Our interlocutor is the AKP, they have to do something. If they are taking on a community of 25 million with cheap heroism, that is the party's business. You are praising the criminal, the organization. Are you on the side of our President—our President's letter is in our museum, he speaks highly of our struggle—or are you on the side of the terrorist organization? Which side are you on, Mr. Mayor, on July 15th!"

News Source: 12punto