Debt debate at Fenerbahçe High Council: Aziz Yıldırım reacts sharply at the meeting

Fierce debates took place over the club's financial statement at the Fenerbahçe High Council Meeting. Speaking on behalf of the current management, Tanju Kaya stated that the club needs 200 million euros in cash to fulfill its obligations until May 2027.

Speaking at the meeting held at the Fenerbahçe Faruk Ilgaz Facilities, Kaya noted that on the day they received their mandate on June 9, they were faced with 43 million euros in overdue debt. Kaya stated that the total obligation that needed to be paid by the end of June to obtain Turkish Football Federation and UEFA licenses reached 55 million euros.

Kaya also reminded that UEFA had fined the club 7 million euros in the previous period due to violations of team budget rules. Stating that they are facing a tax audit covering a total of 26 clubs, Kaya said that the football spending limit reported by the TFF remained 32 million euros below the current player salary budget.

Emphasizing that one of the most important items in the financial statement is future revenues, Kaya said that 142 million euros of revenue belonging to the 2026 and subsequent seasons had been collected early and used by the previous management. Kaya said, "Future revenues were spent in advance, while a significant amount of debt that needed to be paid and obligations that needed to be fulfilled were left on the shoulders of today's management."

RESPONSE FROM THE FORMER MANAGEMENT

Orhan Demirel, who served as general secretary during the Sadettin Saran era, reacted to the current management's statements. Stating that blaming former administrations would not benefit the club, Demirel conveyed that Saran had suggested not to speak about the former president and administrations when they took office.

Demirel said, "Blaming the previous management does not lead anywhere. Mr. Sadettin had a dream of friendship and peace, but it does not happen in this community. Cash flow will always be needed. It has always been like this; there is no need to blame anyone."

Burçin Gözlüklü, one of the executives of the Saran era, also made a financial assessment regarding their own period. Stating that they were faced with a 190 million euro cash deficit when they took office, Gözlüklü explained that they tried to stabilize the financial structure with extraordinary general assembly decisions, capital increase authorization, and real estate tender processes.

Gözlüklü argued that during their term, financial debt was zeroed out, commercial debt decreased by 6 million euros, and total debt was reduced by 89 million euros compared to September 21, 2025. Gözlüklü also said that their planning was made until the end of the 2026-2027 season.

In the later part of the meeting, tension arose between Fenerbahçe President Aziz Yıldırım and former executives. During Burçin Gözlüklü's speech, Yıldırım reacted by saying, "There is debt, there is debt, do not hide it."

During Orhan Demirel's speech, it was reported that Yıldırım stood up and said, "Are you guilty, Orhan? Why are you defending yourself? Is there anyone accusing you?" A brief exchange took place between the two.

News Source: 12punto