Fenerbahçe President Saran's statement on referees named in betting scandal: 'It's no surprise to us'

Attending the Republic Concerts organized for the 102nd anniversary of the Republic by the Ünifeb Alumni Association at a shopping mall in Kadıköy, Sadettin Saran made statements to members of the press.

Starting his remarks by emphasizing their pride in the Republic Day, Saran said, "We will celebrate the 102nd anniversary of the Republic. We are proud and happy. Hopefully, we will celebrate many more years together."

Responding to a question regarding the 152 referees referred to the Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK) by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) Legal Consultancy on the grounds of betting, Saran stated the following:

"I said similar things in Gaziantep yesterday. We are extremely happy that these have come to light. It is no surprise to us. More names will emerge, and this matter will go to other places as well. For now, all I will say is that we are following it closely and will speak when the time comes. We congratulate those who brought this to light once again. We believe this is an opportunity to turn a clean page for Turkish football. As a club that takes great care not to commit injustice, we are extremely happy with these developments in order to get rid of the dirty people among us and for Turkish football to reach a pristine state. We will speak when the time comes. More things will come to light."

Regarding the fact that Super Lig referee Zorbay Küçük was among those referred to the PFDK, Saran said, "We were not surprised. More will come out. We are currently monitoring the situation. It came to light, albeit late. We congratulate those who brought it to light."

Emphasizing that the current situation will not be limited to just the referees, Saran stated that there is no need to rush.

Speaking about the football team's latest victory and the footage taken on the plane on the way back from Gaziantep, Sadettin Saran said:

"We have gone through very difficult processes. With the council of members, elections, and general assemblies, we are moving forward with determination. Love will win, and we are satisfied with the progress. I could not watch the footage on the plane. Life is short, and one must know how to have fun. People should not take themselves too seriously. As a former athlete, I say this: winning is of course important, but it is more important for the team to put their heart into it. This makes me very happy, and I believe we will see this more often."