Beşiktaş President Arat: Turkey's image in the world over the last two months is worrying

An iftar dinner was hosted by Beşiktaş Club Vice President Mete Vardar for President Hasan Arat and board members in Kuruçeşme.

President Arat answered questions from members of the press regarding the agenda following the iftar dinner.

Stating that Turkish football is going through a troubled period, Arat said, "We are of the opinion that the Turkish Football Federation should always hold multi-candidate elections. We believe that the boards should also be elected. If the boards are elected, they will act differently. As long as the boards are not independent, Turkish sports will continue to experience these problems. We are not in a combative stance. We are showing the way.

Since we took office, we have experienced the most interesting events in the history of Turkish sports over the past 4 months. A referee was slapped, a team withdrew from the pitch, fans entered the pitch, and VAR records were dramatically revealed. You cannot remain unresponsive to these. Beşiktaş will continue to seek its rights and tell the truth within the framework of its noble stance. We will not talk behind closed doors.

Incredible events are happening in Turkish football. One must be very careful. Club managers must stop hurting each other just for the sake of a victory. If you cannot demonstrate justice on the pitch and the obvious results of this are revealed through leaked VAR footage and the ensuing debates, then there is a very dire situation."

"TURKEY'S IMAGE IN THE WORLD OVER THE LAST 2 MONTHS IS WORRYING"

Emphasizing that the institutions governing football in Turkey must become auditable and accountable, Hasan Arat said, "Beşiktaş is not a club for which referees will apologize after they retire. We even tried to handle technology with our own methods. They need to fix these dramatic things. Turkish football can be saved when administrations reach a point where they are auditable and accountable. 

This year, we have experienced more incidents than the sum of what has happened in the last 20 years. It is very dramatic. Whoever becomes champion this season, it will be problematic.

The TFF statute and the sports law need to be reviewed. Turkey's image in the world over the last 2 months is worrying. These images are offending Turkey. Those who manage this business must act responsibly."

"THE SEMİH ISSUE IS A RED LINE FOR BEŞİKTAŞ"

President Arat criticized the fact that Beşiktaş's 18-year-old player Semih Kılıçsoy was sent to the U21 National Team despite being invited to the A National Team, and shared the following views:

"The Semih issue is a red line for Beşiktaş. As a child of Turkey, everyone should protect him. We are not a country that constantly produces such players. Our insistence is not just about the player (Semih Kılıçsoy) getting into the team. It is about protecting the rights of a Turkish child who is being raised.

At 17, children in Spain and Brazil are scoring goals and changing match results. If you say from the beginning that you will play in the U21 National Team for 2 matches, there is no problem. Feyyaz Uçar said, 'This kid has been scoring goals since he was 10.' Seeking our rights does not mean shouting. As soon as we arrived, we extended Semih's contract until 2028. You will start to feel the Beşiktaş value in the youth academy more. We have to protect Semih as Turkey."

"THE MOST CRITICAL PHASE IS REACHING THE CUP"

Noting that the first 2 months after taking office were very difficult, Hasan Arat said, "Our first 2-3 months were very troubled. We were very sad. We could not share this much with the public. Thank God, we have an effective board of directors. Their work even embarrasses me. We have also started to learn.

We know our shortcomings and are trying to complete them. From now on, the most critical phase is to reach the cup and make the right transfers. There will be a big change in UEFA next season. Our transfer committee has been established. They are working with Samet Aybaba. We will do good things.

Our morale is better. We must reach our goal. We had a very difficult 2 months. We have to be very good. We have set our goal on finishing third in the league and winning the cup. Reaching these goals is our priority."

"THERE IS A NEED FOR A STATUTE CHANGE"

Explaining that the Union of Clubs Foundation currently has no sanctioning power, Arat assessed, "The Union of Clubs Foundation was established in 2000 under the leadership of Anatolian clubs. It has no sanctioning power as a statute. It needs to completely renew itself as a statute. It cannot cause such a change of direction in Turkish football. In a legal sense, the Union of Clubs Foundation needs to be effective. There is an absolute need for a statute change. Perhaps it should become a joint-stock company. Turkey must undergo a complete shell change in this respect. There is no other way."

"WE WILL FIGHT TO THE END"

Emphasizing that they will never compromise on their principles to protect the rights of the black-and-white club, Hasan Arat noted the following:

"Beşiktaş is not a club for which referees will apologize after they retire. Beşiktaş's rights have been violated for years. We must give our answer very well. I still believe in technology. I believe that referees will be visible on the screen the moment they go to VAR. The broadcaster must also provide those images instantly. We will not ask for anything that is not our right. Beşiktaş is the people's team.

We will not compromise on our principles. We will fight to the end so that they do not upset Beşiktaş. I believe we will do good things.

We have to achieve success in sports because the end of the entire balance sheet depends on sporting success. I hope we will not be embarrassed. I think a new era will begin after the leaking of VAR records. There is nothing to hide regarding VAR management. Turkey has to make this change. If it does not, it cannot continue financially and sociologically. The media must also be transparent."