Statement from Hulki Cevizoğlu on the Super Cup final

AK Party Istanbul MP Hulki Cevizoğlu accused Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, who wanted to take the field for the Super Cup final with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk t-shirts and banners, of "polarizing society."

"WHY DON'T YOU WEAR THE ATATÜRK T-SHIRT IN TURKEY"

Speaking on a Haber Global broadcast, Hulki Cevizoğlu said, "Why are you turning this into a diplomatic scandal? Why do you want to polarize Turkey over Atatürk while heading into an election? Why don't you wear the Atatürk t-shirt in Turkey, my friend? Is there any point in stirring up the nation just to wear an Atatürk t-shirt in Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Europe, or at the poles? Why don't you wear the Atatürk t-shirt in Turkey?"

"WHOEVER IS RESPONSIBLE MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE"

Criticizing the decision to play the Super Cup match in Saudi Arabia, Cevizoğlu said, "Why aren't you playing the Super Cup final in its 100th year in Samsun, Izmir, Ankara, or Istanbul? The money is 100 million dollars, 60 million or 100 million TL, whatever it is... Why are you playing it there, who decided this? Isn't the 100th year Turkey's 100th year; did we establish the Republic in Saudi Arabia? Why aren't you playing the 100th-year match in Turkey? What kind of disgrace is this?"

Accusing the presidents of Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe of causing a diplomatic crisis, Cevizoğlu said, "Why are you bringing our diplomatic relations to this point because of a match, and who is doing it? Should the two club presidents be held accountable, or the federation, whoever it is must be held accountable. Can the presidents of two major clubs not manage people who have such a large community? They should resign and leave. Why does your football cause a political crisis?"