Ali Koç’s Historic Call to Aziz Yıldırım: “For the Last Time in History”

Ali Koç, President of Fenerbahçe Club, made a statement at the elective ordinary general assembly meeting of the yellow-navy club at Ülker Stadium.

Here are the words of Ali Koç addressing the General Assembly members:

“WHAT I’VE BEEN DREAMING OF FOR 6 YEARS DIDN’T HAPPEN TODAY”

“Unfortunately, today the plan didn’t go as expected. You came here at a time when my spirit needed yours the most. 9 thousand people have come today, registered. You supported both Aziz Yıldırım and myself. I was expecting a very different day. What I’ve been dreaming of for 6 years was supposed to happen today, but it didn’t. So many things have been said in the last 6 months, and when a person, who is human, cannot respond to these, when there is not even an ounce of truth in the accusations, you rebel.”

“MY GREATEST DREAM…”

“I aimed to provide you, who will choose the president for the next 3 years, with the most accurate information. My greatest dream was for those who have supported us for the past 6 years to say ‘We did the right thing, we supported him,’ three years from now, but also for those who say, ‘Even if a pavement stone ran for president, I would vote for him,’ to also say ‘It’s a good thing the man persisted.’ I don’t know how much I can say since the person I need to address isn’t here to hear it from me.”

“WE’VE COME TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN SIGN MOURINHO”

“We have spent 6 years together. We have made significant progress outside of football. We have achieved great success in all team branches. Our debt was this, that, you calculated wrong… We brought everything together. We have come to a point where we can sign Mourinho from the club closest to bankruptcy in Europe. This is the biggest sign that the ship is on the right course, but we are just getting started. We have never made a wrong decision knowingly or willingly. You can criticize our decisions, our mistakes, but we have done everything for Fenerbahçe. When we took over the club, we were one of the worst financially in Europe. Despite all the events beyond our control, we have come this far. Those who say ‘I would never give a penny if I didn’t give 150 million euros’ are just cowards. If you find a lawyer to file a lawsuit, a court to accept it, go ahead. We didn’t have proper records of the club before 2014. Mr. Tamer Yelkovan didn’t manage properly. We don’t know the past. One thing we know is that my friends and I have not made any settlements in our commercial relations with the club like you have. What you gave is unknown, what you took, what you reconciled is known.”

“I AM MAKING THIS OFFER FOR THE LAST TIME IN HISTORY”

“The way of departure saddened me. A press statement was made, all their claims are empty. Mr. President, it’s not too late, come by 5 o’clock, let’s go on TV tonight… I am making this offer for the last time in history; if you want, let’s meet wherever you like and talk.

“I feel embarrassed to say this. I have not received a single penny from this club. Without any embarrassment, they say they will sue me if I haven’t paid 150 million euros. Always threats, always threats! If I haven’t paid, I’m a coward. If you find a lawyer, they’ll file a lawsuit, if you find a court, they’ll accept it, give it. Before 2014, our club’s records were not properly kept. Mr. Tamer Yelkovan didn’t manage properly. We don’t know the past. What we know is that me and my friends, unlike you, did not make settlements like you did in our commercial relationship with the club. What you gave is unknown, what you received, what you reconciled is known.

“There is a difference of 1 cup between my first 6 years and your first 6 years. When we arrived, we had no room for maneuver. All our revenues were pledged. In our first meeting with Obradovic, he said to me, ‘Pay our debt to Euroleague.’ I thought he would ask for transfers.”

“Did we allocate all our resources only to the coach? Acun Ilıcalı told us how he wanted to build a team. As he said, we will assemble a very good team, which is already a very good team, and create a completely different Fenerbahçe.”

“How can you complain about the institution you want to chair? What comes to your mind first when we bargain and reduce the money you generously give; ‘They gave money openly,’ is it? You didn’t negotiate with Mourinho. Then when those who approach realistically bring the matter to this point; ‘Irregularity, crime…’ You did the same with İrfan Can. They say the coach’s agent had a debt since 2014. We paid it in 2021, from Bruno Alves.”

“To those who have negative thoughts about me, support Aziz Yıldırım, or are undecided… I owe all of you. I have no grudges, believe me. My only regret is the reactions from these stands to the kids fighting with the striped jersey. Let everything come to us, not to those who fight with the striped jersey.

“Why did I become a candidate, why did I change my mind? I will explain that too. There are 3 reasons… First; I changed my mind to rescue our club from the mentality that brought it to this situation, to prevent that mentality from returning. That beautiful, cheerful, inquiring about children, jocular image has gone… The angry, threatening, impatient, heartless personality we used to remember has returned. You never congratulated us once.” You never celebrated once in 6 years, you never stood by us once. You blamed us in Trabzon.

“The second reason; not to let our struggle with a structure targeting Fenerbahçe be interrupted. The Fenerbahçe President says he doesn’t shoot blanks. Have you ever fired? We raised the banner of rebellion and the betting operation started, foreign VAR referees came, the clubs started a signature campaign. Reluctantly, we had to make an election call. Did these happen on their own? Fenerbahçe has been under systematic attack for 20 years. Do you know why we are under these attacks? Because we are Fenerbahçe. Fenerbahçe lives by the principles of the republic in its veins.

“My words like ‘They won’t make Fenerbahçe a champion as long as I am the president’ were an expression of rebellion. But it was not surrender, it was not hopelessness at all. Making an election campaign out of this is an expression of helplessness.

“We have done good things for 6 years. We want to finish what we started. I will give you this promise: Fenerbahçe must be the strongest club economically in Turkey. First, we need to get out of the Banks Association. Why? Because we can’t pay a principal amount. Always interest. We need to get rid of this. How? Fenerbahçe has the lowest public offering rate. Our stadium name will change next year. We will shatter this and spend it to pay the principal, not for transfers. Thus, our debt payments will decrease. If that’s not enough, we have a growing economy, and we have real estate. ‘I will sell the hall,’ he says, the same person says, ‘Do not approve the sale of real estate.’ Will we only approve if you sell?”

“We have applied to our state to change our stadium name to Atatürk. Until it becomes official, writing Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on our roof will be the best indicator of our seriousness on this issue.”

“There is a study to get more fans standing. According to the regulations, there is no standing in UEFA matches, but they are trying it in 5 countries. We wanted to try too. They will try next season. If we can’t get permission, there will be narrower seats in blue color, and the capacity will increase.”

“There was an unpleasant incident this morning. I don’t know if this is a strategy, but don’t ever think this is over. We will win, and on Monday morning, we will embark on a brand new journey together.”

“I want to make this call to Aziz Yıldırım. My late grandfather’s remains were stolen, and we couldn’t find them for 8 months. Then they were found in the same cemetery. A media member asked a family member ‘will you forgive?’ and our family member gave a very harsh answer. They asked the same question to my father, and he said, ‘There is nothing that cannot be forgiven in life.’ I learned this from my father. There is nothing that cannot be forgiven in life. Especially when it comes to uniting for the interests of Fenerbahçe, there is definitely nothing. Mr. President, I am very sorry for what happened here today. You went to jail for Fenerbahçe, you gave material and spiritual things. It is very painful to see that your attachment to this club has been fundamentally shaken. You only cherish Fenerbahçe as the president you are. You hate me. Your hatred for Ali Koç has overshadowed your love for Fenerbahçe. This is a very painful situation.”

“You came to the podium, and it was said your speech wouldn’t be appropriate. ‘There will be a fight,’ you said, and I said, ‘If there will be a fight, there will be.’ Why did I say this? Try to remember. ‘I come to the general assembly, to the council, but can they ensure their safety? Aren’t they aware of what might happen if I speak? Uğur Bey and Ali Bey, you crumbled in front of 20-30 people.’ These are your words. Who do you think you are? You’re intimidating everyone. If you didn’t act in accordance with what we said, you wouldn’t be able to stay here and speak. Remember that.”

“You’re objecting to today’s congress panel election and accusing us all of raising both hands. Look, someone raised both hands (Aziz Yıldırım’s image is shown on the screen). A quarter of the delegates are not delegates, you say they entered illegally. You’re portraying security cards as something else to the media. You claim we can’t defend Fenerbahçe’s rights, that we’ve supposedly suffered injustice, but you’re leaving without defending your own rights. You’re talking about withdrawing from the field. Didn’t you withdraw from the election ground this morning? You shouldn’t speak too big in life. Just as it has happened to you many times before.”