Ali Koç: We have decided to be part of the roadmap

The Clubs Association Foundation held a meeting at the Conrad Hotel to discuss the 'Advisory Board' project presented by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) last week. Fenerbahçe and Clubs Association President Ali Koç, Beşiktaş President Serdal Adalı, Galatasaray General Secretary Eray Yazgan, and other club presidents and executives attended the meeting, where the main agenda item was the new refereeing system and its management.

In addition to club representatives, Central Referee Board (MHK) President Ferhat Gündoğdu and TFF Vice President Mecnun Otyakmaz also participated. Speaking to members of the press after the meeting, Koç said, “As you know, we held a meeting in Riva last week. There was a new model that the Turkish Football Federation proposed to us clubs for the refereeing institution.

We asked questions there, discussed it, and evaluated it among ourselves. We wanted to evaluate it once more today with some friends who could not attend that day. Our MHK President and President Mecnun also came once again today. As clubs, we have decided to be part of this roadmap. An advisory board will be established. There will be representatives of the clubs on this board.

Of course, which names will be these representatives is also an important criterion. The MHK and TFF said they wanted to start in the 20th week. This advisory board is actually an application intended for the Super Lig and 1st Lig clubs to start managing the refereeing institution through a Joint Stock Company starting from next year.

When we look at modern football, we clearly see that there is a trend in this direction. We need to modernize in many areas. The referee issue has become a chronic problem. This is a matter known by all of us. Therefore, we might wait a few more weeks to implement it, rather than 20 weeks,” he said.

"WE HAVE NO SAY"

Emphasizing that as clubs, they should have more say as the primary subjects of football, Ali Koç said, “You know that the subjects of football are the football teams. But unfortunately, we have no say at all in matters that concern our own interests. This could be the broadcasting tender, it could be digital rights. It could be being told one day to switch to Passolig. It could be sponsorships. We have no say in any matter.

Officially, we have no say at all. We have as much say as the current federations involve us. From this perspective, the decision made by İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu is a very brave decision. He said, ‘Are you not satisfied with the refereeing board? Do you see a chronic problem? Then you too become a part of this issue and come design it with us.’

In this case, if the clubs do not take responsibility, they have no right to complain in any way from now on. That is why I find this decision of our federation very brave. Currently, although only one or two clubs are in principle, they wanted the duties of the advisory board to be better defined. We will resolve these in the coming period as well. So, there is no one saying clearly that this should not happen,” he expressed.

"UEFA HAS A 5 BILLION DOLLAR PIE"

Stating that the decision to be made regarding referees is also important for UEFA, President Koç said, “The European Club Association has established a joint company with UEFA. We are talking about a pie of approximately 5 billion Dollars for UEFA in the next 4-year period. (Aleksander) Ceferin acted very bravely and agreed to manage this jointly with the clubs, even though he had no obligation to do so. We are talking about sharing a great power.

We also need to reach this point. And this decision to be made regarding referees has been a development that will support this in a positive direction to reach this point. We have decided to proceed in this way. In the coming days, we will decide who will represent us. From now on, there should not be anything like, ‘Is he a Beşiktaş fan? Is he a Fenerbahçe fan? Is he a Galatasaray fan?’

This situation also offends the Anatolian clubs too much. Last year, a foreign VAR referee came. He was selected for certain matches. Other clubs found this strange. In the league, some of us are playing to stay in the league, some to become champions or to go to Europe. We think that every match should be of the same importance. Due to interest and attention, more cameras can be placed in some matches. It can be broadcast abroad. But for the official who will ensure justice on the field, every match must be of the same value. As clubs, we support this,” he stated.

"THERE ARE VERY BIG LIES WITHIN OUR FOOTBALL"

Reminding that the project in question was first brought to the agenda by the previous federation, President Ali Koç said, “Those who want to undermine this label it on social media as Ali Koç’s project. They say things that are not true. Unfortunately, many things that are not true are said in our football. This is a project started by Mehmet Büyükekşi, friends. The current federation has also refined this work and brought it to this point. There are very big lies within our football. One of these lies is to say that this project is Ali Koç’s or Fenerbahçe’s project. If we have complaints, as clubs, we all need to do something in this redesigning event. We need to take responsibility, even put our bodies on the line,” he said.

Koç concluded his speech by wishing a happy new year to the members of the press and all the Turkish people.

News Source: İHA