Antalyaspor sponsor to file damages lawsuit against Jehezkel

Dursun Çağlayan, owner of Çağlayan Group, one of Antalyaspor's sponsors, stated that they do not consider the suspension of Israeli footballer Sagiv Jehezkel sufficient and announced that they would withdraw their team sponsorship if his contract is not terminated: "We will file a lawsuit against Sagiv Jehezkel."

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Antalyaspor sponsor to file damages lawsuit against Jehezkel

Jehezkel was detained by Antalya Police Department teams as part of an investigation launched by the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on allegations of committing the crime of "inciting the public to hatred and hostility."

Dursun Çağlayan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Çağlayan Group, one of Antalyaspor's sponsors, made a statement following the Israeli footballer's gesture.

Claiming that the footballer's gesture was a show of support for genocide, Çağlayan stated that they had met with Club President Sinan Boztepe and the management following this action.

Stating that they do not consider Jehezkel's suspension sufficient and that they would withdraw from team sponsorship if his contract is not terminated, Çağlayan also announced that they would file a lawsuit against the Israeli footballer.

Çağlayan noted the following in his statement:

"Announced to the public!

As Çağlayan Group, we are the jersey sponsor of Antalyaspor, one of our country's distinguished clubs. We consider it a source of pride and honor to serve Turkish football and Antalyaspor. However, unfortunately, the show by Antalyaspor footballer Sagiv Jehezkel, which amounted to support for the genocide Israel is carrying out in Gaza, has deeply saddened us. It is unacceptable for sports and Antalyaspor to be used as a tool for this message of support for a heinous genocide.

We think and hope that the Antalyaspor management will show the necessary reaction to this insolence and will not leave this act unanswered. We immediately discussed this issue with our club president, Mr. Sinan Boztepe, and some members of the management, and we conveyed to the club management that suspending the footballer would not be enough, that his contract should be terminated and he should be deported, otherwise no other decision would be worthy of our Antalyaspor and our group company, and that if the necessary sanctions are not applied, we will withdraw from the sponsorship of the Antalyaspor we love so much.

Remaining silent while applauding oppression is also oppression. As Çağlayan Group, we will file a lawsuit against Sagiv Jehezkel because our brand was damaged and our brand appeared in the same frame while genocide propaganda was being made. Our lawyers will follow the process. We announce this to the public with respect.

Dursun ÇAĞLAYAN

Chairman of the Board of Directors, Çağlayan Group

News Source: 12punto