Ali Koç: 'These are not problems that the TFF can solve by shifting responsibility onto others'

Speaking after a meeting at the Union of Clubs Foundation in Maslak, which was also attended by Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, Ali Koç stated that they touched upon many issues during the meeting with Minister Bak.

Emphasizing that the attack on referee Halil Umut Meler following the MKE Ankaragücü-Çaykur Rizespor match has wounded the entire country, Koç said, "The country's football brand value has also been damaged internationally. It is absolutely impossible to accept such a violent incident. What Halil Umut Meler went through and what was reflected on camera, which we watched frame by frame, broke all of our hearts. Naturally, it broke his family's heart the most. We want to express our deepest get-well wishes to him, his family, the referees who officiated the match, and the Turkish football community as a whole. What is important is for Halil Umut Meler to regain his health as soon as possible, and we sincerely hope that he will change the decision he made out of the sadness and shock of that moment and return to the pitch. The problems regarding referee quality are already known to us all. We sincerely desire that Turkey's best referee will reconsider his decision after this tragic event and return."

"If we understand how we reached this point, we can find a solution for the future"

Underlining that the events that took place do not suit the football pitch, Ali Koç continued his words as follows:

"We were faced with an incident we never wished to see. However, let us not forget that this incident has happened many times in our stadiums before. Perhaps not in a match that was in the spotlight this much, but similar incidents have unfortunately occurred in many matches for years. Today is the day to address the accumulated problems with great courage and determination and to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that similar incidents do not happen again. We need to look at these events from a broad perspective; we need to understand well how we got here. We must all see the truth together. The TFF, the Central Referee Board (MHK), referees, our clubs, the media, fans, and coaches all need to analyze very well where we have come from. Based on these recent events, we all have to think about Turkish football thoroughly. If we understand how we reached this point, we can find a solution for the future."

Stating that everyone has a share in the current situation and that no one should avoid taking responsibility, Koç continued his words by saying, "These are not problems that the Turkish Football Federation can solve by distancing itself and shifting responsibility onto others. The attitude of the TFF, which is responsible for the management of Turkish football, in blaming, inciting, and even condemning the sports media, coaches, former referee commentators, television commentators, our sports clubs that make great sacrifices, and the presidents and managers of these sports clubs in this incident, was a factor that was strongly rejected and found unacceptable in the meeting we just held. I also ask you to take a look at the statements Mehmet Büyükekşi made about referees during his time as president of Gaziantep FK in the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons."

"Life and football have continued as if nothing happened"

Stating that everyone in the football world has a goal, with some teams aiming for the championship and others aiming to avoid relegation, Ali Koç emphasized that Turkish football is no longer in competition but in conflict, and has even reached the point of polarization.

Underlining that responsibilities should not be shifted onto others, Koç said:

"Shifting responsibility onto others and ignoring one's own responsibilities is using this incident as an opportunity to solve chronic problems. When we look at this picture once again, we can see how much we have polarized over football competition. Instead of grasping the truth, we are still evolving into further polarization and conflict. Now is not the time or place for this. Those who do this should not be allowed to continue. Much, much more serious incidents that were covered up have occurred in our country to date. Life and football have continued as if nothing happened. It is time to open these books as well. But from today on, the actions of all stakeholders, especially the TFF, must not go unpunished so that these problems can find a credible, permanent end. We have to show this determination all together."

Stating that they also evaluated the chronic problems of the clubs with Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, Koç continued as follows:

"There are two important problems. One is fair competition, and the second is our financial problems. We will request an appointment to visit our President, as well as our Ministers of Justice and Interior, who have listened to the problems of Turkish football only from the TFF president until now, as soon as possible. We believe that with mutual understanding and unity of power, we can create a football climate that we will all be proud of. We announce to the public that, as clubs, we will initiate the necessary work and take all initiatives to ensure that all forms of violence in football are erased from our pitches and that the unfair competitive environment, which is the main cause of violence, is brought to an end."

Expressing an issue that all club presidents were uncomfortable with during the meeting, Koç stated, "One of the elements that bothers us is that the TFF president, who thanked UEFA, FIFA, and England, did not thank the clubs, the Union of Clubs Foundation, the athletes, or the reflex shown following the attack on Halil Umut Meler in any way. This actually says a lot. Our presidents requested that this discomfort be brought to the agenda."

News Source: 12punto