He had attacked Halil Umut Meler: Striking statement from Faruk Koca, who says 'We paid the price'

Former president of the capital city club Faruk Koca, who entered the pitch and punched match referee Halil Umut Meler following the MKE Ankaragücü - Çaykur Rizespor match played in the 15th week of the Süper Lig, made statements regarding the process.

Stating that he does not want to go into detail because the judicial process is ongoing, Faruk Koca said, "When the negatives regarding the state of the country's football come one after another, we are also human, we are mortal, sometimes we can be weak, and we can react like this. Reacting to injustice is a human thing, but the form of the reaction may be wrong. In that sense, we have made our self-criticism regarding the form."

"EVERYONE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY"

Expressing that lessons should be learned from the process and that the right steps should be taken, Koca evaluated, "Everyone has a responsibility. The Ministry of Youth and Sports, the TFF, sports clubs, the sports public, the press, and the stakeholders of football must think about the issue in all its dimensions. These events do not happen out of nowhere. Every week after the matches, evaluations and criticisms are made about the referees. These criticisms should not be taken for granted because when they are, problems arise in terms of solving the events."

Faruk Koca said that it is not possible for football in Turkey to live this way for a long time.

Pointing out that the number of fans coming to the matches is gradually decreasing, Koca said, "It is not possible for football in Turkey to live for a long time in this way, with these codes or these rules. The fan no longer wants to go to the match. This is the responsibility of all of us, especially the federation, which needs to talk about the reasons for this. This incident will only have meaning if the problems are put on the table and contribute to a solution."

"WE PAID THE PRICE"

Using the expression, "We have already paid the price for the action we took individually," Koca said, "I stayed in prison for 16 days. The judicial process is ongoing. I wish it hadn't happened. Unfortunately, as a society, we pay attention to events only after they turn into large-scale actions, rather than criticisms and warnings. As someone who has experienced the trouble of this, if this incident leads to positive steps being taken in the future, we will find some consolation in that."

Emphasizing that the brand value of football in Turkey has decreased, Koca made the assessment, "In this, everyone is guilty, including the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the TFF, football clubs and their presidents, us included, as well as footballers, agents, and coaches."

"YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT A DEMORALIZED MASS WILL DO"

Regarding his presidency at MKE Ankaragücü Club, Faruk Koca used the expression, "I did not preside over a club; I was at the head of a social responsibility project."

Underlining that football in Turkey appeals to millions of people, Koca continued his words as follows:

"Football club presidents in Turkey are the people who manage the largest masses after political parties. We manage a mass of 30 million. This is a ground where the wealthiest, most cultured people of Turkey meet with the most marginalized, most peripheral people in a single arena. The responsibility is huge. The institutions that manage this 30 million mass must have very serious rules and must not compromise on principles. Otherwise, you demoralize this mass. And you never know what a demoralized mass will do in social events. Unfortunately, clubs receive serious penalties in every match. The mass wants to go to the match and discharge. No one wants bad chanting, but you cannot control 20 thousand people. It needs to be looked at and evaluated with empathy. In this sense, apart from physical intervention, nothing individual should be banned in matches. However, MKE Ankaragücü receives penalties every week. Clubs experience the trouble of masses that you cannot control or intervene in. Last year, MKE Ankaragücü received a fine of 8 million 700 thousand liras on the grounds of bad chanting and stairwell obstructions. This is not something that should happen; there is no income anyway."

"ALL STAKEHOLDERS OF FOOTBALL, EVERYONE IS GUILTY"

Explaining that football in Turkey has very big problems, Faruk Koca said, "The problems need to be put on the table and discussed in all their nakedness, without complexes. All stakeholders of football, especially the Ministry, the TFF, club presidents including us, and the sports media, everyone is guilty."

Stating that sitting on a wrong system is also a crime, Koca continued:

"We are sitting on a wrong mechanism. Then we get angry, get mad, and react. All club presidents use very harsh expressions about referees. Sports commentators use harsh expressions about referees. Referees are also uncomfortable. Then this needs to be fixed somehow. Referees do not want to make mistakes either. If these issues are not discussed and the rules are not established properly, the problem will continue and grow. While the value of football brands is increasing in the world, it is falling in Turkey. There is a huge drop in the number of fans coming to the stadium, and the stakeholders of football are to blame for this."

"FOOTBALL NEEDS TO BE INSTITUTIONALIZED"

Stating that he put great effort into MKE Ankaragücü, Faruk Koca explained that football management is very difficult.

Conveying that people see the popular side of club presidency but that football management is a "troublesome job," Koca said, "You have to look for money every day. You have to buy players. You are applauded when there is success, and you are criticized at the slightest failure. There is no football culture that should exist in Turkey. This cannot be left to the football spectator. Football needs to be institutionalized."

Noting that they took responsibility at MKE Ankaragücü when it was about to be relegated to the amateur league, Faruk Koca concluded his words by saying, "MKE Ankaragücü, which has become one of the best clubs in Turkey in terms of financial and institutional structure, has no debt to anyone other than the current players. It doesn't even have tax debt."

News Source: AA