Witness testimonies emerge in Galatasaray black market ticket allegations

Following the criminal complaint filed by Galatasaray Sports Club President Dursun Özbek to the prosecutor's office regarding the investigation of allegations of black market sales of Galatasaray match tickets, which have been on the agenda in the press and on social media, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the matter.

Within the scope of the investigation, Galatasaray Council Board member Hayri Kozak and journalists Ahmet Serhat Ulueren and Adnan Menderes Aybaba gave statements as "witnesses".

HAYRİ KOZAK: "I WAS MADE TO LOOK LIKE A LIAR IN THE COUNCIL BOARD"

In his statement to the prosecutor's office, Kozak said that he first learned of the allegations in question through the words "18 Galatasaray members have been summoned to testify by the prosecutor's office" during a television program attended by journalist Haluk Yürekli, and that such an allegation and investigation had never occurred in the 100-year history of the Galatasaray Sports Club, and that this discourse disturbed him.

Stating that he initially thought the club would take an initiative regarding these allegations, but when no one took action, he brought the issue up at the Council Board meeting on August 14, Kozak continued as follows:

"When I asked, 'Is there anyone else who has information and is disturbed by this?' regarding why the club did not conduct any research on this subject, I was disappointed when only two of my friends said they 'had information.' When the President said that these allegations were 'lies and baseless information' despite me bringing them up, I was made to look like a liar in the Council Board. Since my right to reply had expired, I went to the council president and asked for the floor, but I was not given the right to speak. Later, I said that I would pursue this matter and do whatever was necessary."

Kozak claimed that before the Council Board meeting, Galatasaray Sports Club President Dursun Özbek had gone to the prosecutor's office and told them that the information that 18 people had been summoned to testify was a lie and that there was no investigation.

Explaining that he called journalist Haluk Yürekli 4-5 times to ask about the allegations he raised but could not reach him, Kozak stated, "I also spoke with the Audit Committee, and they said that an audit regarding black market ticket sales was being conducted. The audit is currently ongoing. Although I am a member of the Council Board, I do not have information about the stages regarding the sale and transfer of tickets via Passolig, but I heard that one of the leading figures of the UltrAslan Group came to a room allocated to him at the Galatasaray Club and worked there."

Kozak said that he suspected tickets were being sold on the black market, that he would not let these allegations go, and that it would be appropriate to take the statements of club officials involved in the buying, selling, and transfer of tickets.

ADNAN MENDERES AYBABA'S TESTIMONY

Witness Adnan Menderes Aybaba stated in his testimony that Hayri Kozak, who participated via live link on September 2 in the Telegol program they host, said that there were economic discussions in the club regarding black market ticket sales involving executives, and that many people, including himself and the management, were disturbed by this issue.

Explaining that he also frequently stated that he wanted the prosecutor's office to investigate the matter, Aybaba said, "Our goal, especially as a sports commentator and journalist, is for the allegations circulating in the public eye to be brought to light, especially for the sake of Turkish football, and for Turkish football to move forward in a transparent manner."

AHMET SERHAT ULUEREN'S TESTIMONY

Ahmet Serhat Ulueren, who gave his statement as a witness, said in his declaration that he had worked as a Galatasaray sports reporter for 15 years during his 30-year professional career, and that people who wanted to come to the management of any sports club made promises that they would prevent black market ticket sales, but that no one had taken concrete steps until now.

Regarding the allegations in question, Ulueren noted the following:

"Regarding the subject you asked about, I heard personally, as my son is a Galatasaray fan and is within UltrAslan, that the managers and fans of the UltrAslan fan group pass through the ticket office gates as they wish inside the stadium and that even the ticket office clerks are afraid of these individuals. I have no information that any executive or official working within the Galatasaray Sports Club gained any benefit from the sale of tickets on the black market. However, as I have heard from Fatih Altaylı and Hayrettin Kozak, I learned that Eray Yazgan and Alper Narman were at the head of this business, and that a room was even allocated inside the stadium to Sabahattin Şirin, one of the former founders of the fan group UltrAslan, and the current UltrAslan leader Yılmaz Tutuş, by stadium manager Bora Bahçetepe."

Stating that these statements consisted of hearsay, that the UltrAslan Group has more than 13 thousand fans, and that it is very difficult to detect black market ticket sales, Ulueren stated that he received many reports about tickets being sold at exorbitant prices to citizens living abroad via social media platforms, and that it was not possible for Passolig to detect the allegations because there was no auditing institution.

Emphasizing that the public's concern is that 'ticket sales end within 5 minutes', Ulueren requested that the allegations be investigated because this situation is contrary to the ordinary flow of life.

Stating that he was curious about the reason why tickets started to be found after the allegations of black market ticket sales came to the agenda, Ulueren noted the following:

"I don't think anyone has any information about this either. I estimate that this investigation, and the news and information in the press and on social media, were made deliberately to wear down the Galatasaray management. Because it is not possible for such weakening events to happen one after another when the Galatasaray Financial General Assembly is so close. I think these allegations were brought to the agenda to weaken Dursun Özbek and to stir up the Galatasaray Sports Club."