Acun Ilıcalı Addresses “Structure” Controversy and Referee Issues in Turkish Football
Fenerbahçe Vice President Acun Ilıcalı spoke after their 4-0 victory over Sivasspor. In his comments, Acun Ilıcalı said, “We spoke with İbrahim Hatipoğlu, and it was agreed that we’d wait until the recent national team break. Was there any disrespect or a lie involved? Dear Hatipoğlu – or rather, Disrespectful Hatipoğlu – then said, ‘This is incorrect, there’s no such thing.’ You’re looking me in the eye and lying. I don’t know what to make of this. He’s lying. This time, there was no response.” Acun Ilıcalı reiterated his statement about İbrahim Hatipoğlu.
In week 12 of the Süper Lig, Fenerbahçe defeated Sivasspor 4-0. Fenerbahçe now sits in second place in the league, 5 points behind leaders Galatasaray.
After the match, Fenerbahçe Vice President Acun Ilıcalı made statements:
“If we don’t see any theatrics or staged events, we consider ourselves favorites for the championship. We’re experiencing very strange things in Turkish football. Our claim has always been that odd things are happening. We’re ready for discussion. Whenever Galatasaray wins, they say there’s no controversial situation. We’re talking about the season. Where’s the ‘structure’? A funny incident happened last week. Who’s the one saying, ‘Let’s debate the positions?’ It was Galatasaray who made the proposal. Let’s set it straight for everyone. İbrahim Hatipoğlu said it live on air. Is there anyone disputing this? We agreed on this, too. We spoke with İbrahim Hatipoğlu, and it was agreed to wait until the recent national team break. Was there any disrespect or a lie? Dear Hatipoğlu – or rather, Disrespectful Hatipoğlu – then said, ‘This is incorrect, there’s no such thing.’ You’re looking me in the eye and lying. I don’t know what to make of this. He’s lying. This time, there was no response.”
ACUN ILICALI’S “SCALES” REMINDER
Continuing his statements, Fenerbahçe’s Vice President said, “Now he says he won’t meet with Acun anymore. What’s there to meet about anyway? You say, ‘Only a thief avoids the scales,’ and yet you avoid the scales. When Fenerbahçe loses points, they immediately say, ‘What happened to the structure?’ When Fenerbahçe loses points, do the injustices against us get forgotten? What a nice world this is. I’m speaking directly to Fenerbahçe fans: We will fight to the end. We don’t want anyone’s rights to be taken away.”
Acun Ilıcalı further stated, “Time will show how long it takes to dismantle this structure. Significant steps are being taken. Today, if you noticed, there was a comedy in Trabzon. They made the referee do as they said. It’s the same type of operation, but this time the referee resisted. The TFF (Turkish Football Federation) is making a clear effort. I’ve been penalized, but it doesn’t matter. We see and support the TFF’s efforts.”
“CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOT THANKS TO FENERBAHÇE”
Acun Ilıcalı added, “If Turkey is going to send a team directly to the Champions League, it’s thanks to Fenerbahçe. Look at who’s collected the most points. Don’t just look for a single defeat. If a team is going directly to the Champions League, it’s because of Fenerbahçe.”
