Ankaragücü President responds to Özgür Özel's Mesut Özarslan claim! 'Our club is above politics'

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel stated in his speech at his party's TBMM Group Meeting that Keçiören Mayor Mesut Özarslan, who resigned after being elected from the CHP, told an Ankaragücü fan leader, "I am switching to the AKP, support me and I will buy you an apartment."

Following this statement, a written assessment came from MKE Ankaragücü President İlhami Alparslan. In a post shared on his social media account, Alparslan stated that the club should be kept out of political polemics.

Alparslan made the following statements in his announcement:

"The fact that the name of MKE Ankaragücü was made the subject of political debates at the Republican People's Party group meeting held today has caused deep discomfort within our community.

Ankaragücü is not a part of daily political polemics, personal agendas, or perception operations. Its roots do not lie in any political calendar; they lie in the spirit of İmalat-ı Harbiye, which took responsibility during the nation's most difficult times.

The name of our club represents an identity that is above politics; it represents labor, sacrifice, and a shared memory.

Words spoken by mouths that do not know Ankaragücü, that have not rejoiced for this crest, and that have not grieved for these colors, have no validity in the eyes of our community.

We are on the side of the honorable struggle that brought this club into existence. With the responsibility we inherited from İmalat-ı Harbiye, we will continue to fight on the field, unite in the stands, and act according to the values of Ankaragücü, not politics."

Bugün gerçekleştirilen Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi grup toplantısında MKE Ankaragücü isminin siyasi tartışmalara konu edilmesi, camiamızda derin bir rahatsızlık yaratmıştır.

Ankaragücü, günübirlik siyasi polemiklerin, kişisel hesapların ve algı operasyonlarının parçası değildir.…

— İlhami Alparslan (@ialparslan81) February 10, 2026

News Source: 12punto