Dursun Özbek's reaction to TFF regarding the MHK: 'The league starts in a week, and there is no MHK'

Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek visited the grave of the club's founder and first president, Ali Sami Yen, at Feriköy Cemetery. Responding to questions from members of the press after the visit, Özbek evaluated many issues ranging from new season goals to the national team's results, and from the developments in the Central Referee Board (MHK) to the possibility of postponing the league.

Özbek stated that Galatasaray has significant goals in both the league and Europe this season, adding that they want to win their 5th consecutive championship.

"OUR GOALS IN EUROPE ARE BIG"

Expressing that there are no easy matches in the league, Özbek said, "The fixture is always the same. It has difficult periods and easy periods. Especially this year, there are no easy matches in the league. Everyone is very ambitious, everyone wants to be the champion. It is a difficult year this year."

Drawing attention to the importance of the season for Galatasaray, Özbek said, "We want to win our 5th consecutive championship. Our goals in Europe are big. We want to surpass our success from last year there as well."

HE POINTED TO THE TFF FOR THE NATIONAL TEAM'S RESULTS

Stating that the results obtained by the A National Team after the international break saddened them, Özbek expressed that they are waiting to see what kind of stance the TFF will take following these results.

Özbek said, "The results obtained by the national team saddened us. We are waiting to see what kind of attitude the TFF will take regarding the matter. The results obtained were far below expectations. Hopefully, we will get very good results in the upcoming match."

"THE LEAGUE STARTS IN A WEEK, AND THERE IS NO MHK"

Touching upon the developments in the MHK, one of the important headlines of the agenda, Özbek reminded that Galatasaray had previously called for changes regarding the structure of the board.

Drawing attention to the arrest of the MHK President and the fact that a referee is also under arrest as part of the investigation, Özbek spoke as follows:

"As Galatasaray, we have always made our views on the MHK clear. We have continuously called on the TFF to change it. I wish it hadn't been like this. If the change had been made in time, we wouldn't have woken up to a chaos we didn't need today. The league starts in a week, and there is no MHK! Its president has been arrested, its referee has been arrested."

"HOW WILL THE LEAGUE CONTINUE? TFF SHOULD EXPLAIN"

Criticizing the TFF for remaining silent in the face of the developments, Özbek said that the federation should inform the public about how the league will continue.

Stating that they had brought the problems to the agenda as Galatasaray before, Özbek said, "We saw and stated this situation as a club a long time ago. I came out and said it, my colleagues came out and said it, we made a statement from the club, but nobody cared."

Arguing that silence prevails at the TFF, Özbek said, "The leagues will start in a week. They need to come out and say what they are going to do. This silence makes the chaos even bigger. The events are bubbling over. The prosecutor's statements have emerged. Everyone sees what is going on."

Stating that the future management structure of the leagues should also be clarified following the developments, Özbek said, "While all this is happening, how the management will be shaped in these leagues from now on needs to be revealed."

"IF THE LEAGUE IS TO BE PAUSED, IT WILL BE PAUSED"

Regarding the question of whether the league will be postponed, Dursun Özbek said that the decision belongs to the TFF.

Reminding that they will play a match on Friday, Özbek said, "There is no MHK president, he is under arrest! One of the important referees, whom the MHK values, whom the TFF values, and who is usually assigned to derbies, has been arrested. As the statements are deciphered, things that no one will like are emerging."

Emphasizing that what has happened needs to be clarified as soon as possible, Özbek said, "Silence is not a good sign! The events need to be clarified as soon as possible. If the league is to be paused, it will be paused, but the issue needs to be handled in a way that avoids entering similar debates again. Silence is of no use to anyone."