Fenerbahçe and TFF had denied it: Altaylı's 'daddy's money' response to Ali Koç

Journalist Fatih Altaylı wrote a column following the denial by Fenerbahçe and the TFF of his claim that the idea of playing the Super Cup Final in Saudi Arabia belonged to Fenerbahçe President Ali Koç. 

Altaylı said the following in his column:

"THEY TRIED TO DENY ME BY PRESSURING THE FEDERATION"

"The match was going to be played in Saudi Arabia willingly.

A denial came from the Fenerbahçe Club regarding this column of mine, which was not even that important.

An extremely rude denial. A nonsensical thing that claims I wrote this piece based on instructions I received from the Galatasaray President, whom I last met in June.

I didn't even take it seriously. Because until a few days ago, the same Fenerbahçe Club was hoping for help by spreading what I said against the Galatasaray Club President.

It was a serious sign of rudeness for those who are accustomed to buying everything and even, unfortunately, everyone with daddy's money to think that I am also for sale, but it had no side worth taking seriously.

Then they saw it didn't work, and this time they tried to get me denied by pressuring the Federation.

"YOU HAVE OVERSTEPPED YOUR BOUNDS"

The Federation did what they said. I laughed. Until yesterday, they were the ones accusing the Federation of lying; now they are having the Federation deny me. They are entertaining. They are funny.

Let me say this.

I have made mistakes, but I do not write something as if it exists when I know it was not done by anyone's order or anyone's desire. In this country, not being denied has now become almost equivalent to being confirmed.

Every piece of news is denied, every piece of information, and even every truth is denied. The person who gave me this information, the Federation management who gave this information to the person who gave it to me, and many others know that I do not write lies.

Despite this, if they had made this denial in a gentlemanly manner and had not made rude accusations, I would not have written what I will write below and would have just said, 'What can they do, they are managing a huge holding company. This is part of their job,' and moved on.

But you have overstepped your bounds. Since the communities didn't actually want this match and you are going because of the Federation, the presidents should not go to Saudi Arabia. In fact, send the youth teams, let them play there, devalue the cup. Would you accept it if I made a suggestion for the two teams to play a 100th Anniversary Friendship Match in Turkey?

"I HAVE NEVER BEEN A LIAR"

Or do you insist on going to Saudi Arabia? If you don't go, can't the youth lobby for the 8×8 ARMA II wheeled armored vehicles that Otokar, which belongs to the Koç Group, is trying to sell to the Saudi Arabian armed forces?

Does this business have to be at the boss level? If so, I don't think there is any harm in it. I was the one who wrote that it was wrong when the Altay tank tender was taken away from Otokar, which developed the project.

I would really like for you to sell ARMA II to Saudi Arabia. Exports are a good thing.

I have always been on the side of Turkey, on the side of good deeds. But I have never been a liar.

As Simon Kuper said, I know that football is never just football.

But you should also know and learn not to accuse people you cannot buy. At least for next time."

The Galatasaray community, which displays a reflex to target our President Ali Y. Koç whenever it is in a tight spot or when it suits its interests, has shown a new example of its habitual behavior today through Fatih Altaylı regarding the playing of the Super Cup Final in Saudi Arabia.

FENERBAHÇE HAD DENIED IT

Altaylı wrote that the idea of playing the Super Cup Final in Saudi Arabia belonged to Fenerbahçe President Ali Koç, and Fenerbahçe denied Altaylı with the following statement:

"Are we surprised? We are not surprised…

Supposedly, the Super Cup Final being played in Saudi Arabia was Ali Y. Koç's suggestion and idea!

All the facts regarding what has been experienced during the process that began in the final days of August and has continued to this day will, of course, be revealed clearly.

When that day comes, it will be seen who took what stance.

We specifically request that the Turkish Football Federation, which is the authority of football in Turkey, immediately explain the facts regarding the process."