Home > Current Affairs News > Former Beşiktaş footballer calls on Alpay Özalan to resign: 'A piece of friendly advice'

Former Beşiktaş footballer calls on Alpay Özalan to resign: 'A piece of friendly advice'

Hürser Tekinoktay, a Beşiktaş Divan Board member and former presidential candidate, has reacted sharply to AKP deputy Alpay Özalan, who attacked TİP deputy Ahmet Şık. Criticizing Özalan's actions, Tekinoktay called on Alpay Özalan to resign.

12punto

Hürser Tekinoktay, a Beşiktaş Divan Board member and former presidential candidate, posted on his social media account regarding the brawl that took place yesterday during a special session at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) concerning the failure to release Can Atalay despite the Constitutional Court (AYM) ruling. Stating that former Beşiktaş player and AKP deputy Alpay Özalan should resign, Tekinoktay thanked Erkan Baş and Barış Atay.

A special session was held yesterday in the TBMM regarding the failure to release Can Atalay, a prisoner in the Gezi Park case who was elected as a deputy last year, despite the Constitutional Court (AYM) ruling. Tensions escalated after TİP İstanbul deputy Ahmet Şık began speaking at the podium. During the session, AKP deputy Alpay Özalan attacked Şık while he was speaking. DEM Party Group Deputy Chair Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit and CHP Ankara deputy Okan Konuralp were injured in the attack.

The attack by former Beşiktaş footballer Alpay Özalan drew backlash on social media. In his post on X, Beşiktaş Divan Board member and former presidential candidate Hürser Tekinoktay stated: "Apologize to the TİP members whose General Chair is a Beşiktaş fan, to the deputies of the TBMM, and to the party you belong to. Say that you 'still experience the same enthusiasm as in your youth and made a mistake.' Then, submit your resignation to the President."

Tekinoktay's post is as follows:

First of all, I would like to thank TİP General Chair Erkan Baş, who is a BJK Congress Member, and Barış Atay, who expresses at every opportunity that he is a Beşiktaş fan, for not bringing Beşiktaş and politics together until today.

Dear Erkan Baş,

In yesterday's incident, the fact that Alpay, a former Beşiktaş player, attacked your old friend, deputy Ahmet Şık, is an extremely unfortunate and equally sad event. The fact that the unpleasant climate in Turkey, where we all love the same colors, has spilled into the TBMM has deeply wounded us, just like every Turkish citizen.

COULD NOT BREAK AWAY FROM THE FOOTBALL PITCHES OF THE FATİH TERİM ERA

While I convey my best wishes to you and Ahmet Şık once again; it is another misfortune to see that Alpay still cannot break away from his days on the football pitches of the Fatih Terim era. Dear Alpay, on October 11, 2003, in the match we played against England to qualify directly for the Euro 2004 finals, after Beckham missed the penalty won by the English national team, you angrily went after him and said something. That wasn't enough; during halftime, you walked up to Beckham and did something. You were playing in England, and the English showed a great reaction to what was done to their captain. And in the center of Birmingham, the city where you played, they hung a puppet with your number 5 jersey. You were representing us there; you were supposed to make history. You were talented, you were a good footballer. But you wrote history badly, and we were all saddened.

THE SWISS PEOPLE DID NOT FORGIVE

3 YEARS LATER; On November 16, 2006, you "apologized" to the Swiss people for the events that occurred after the incident-filled Turkey-Switzerland match played in Istanbul. Following this, the Blick newspaper started a poll and asked the Swiss people, "Should we forgive Alpay or not?" While 30 percent of over a thousand participants said "Let's forgive," 70 percent opposed it. In the statement you made after this poll, you said; "I understand, but they will understand me better later. Because the event is still very fresh. For now, I agree with them." Look, years have passed. Now, you have done something that should never have been done to a deputy elected by the nation, just as you did 20 years ago.

APOLOGIZE AND RESIGN

Dear Alpay, you had very good days at Beşiktaş. You won our hearts with your sincerity, your sympathy, and your heartfelt play on the field. A piece of friendly advice to you; apologize to the TİP members whose General Chair is a Beşiktaş fan, to the deputies of the TBMM, and to the party you belong to. Say that you 'still experience the same enthusiasm as in your youth and made a mistake.' Then, submit your resignation to the President. Believe me; people, especially the Swiss people, will understand you better."