Ali Koç on Mourinho: “One of the Best Coaches in History – Our Plans Are Long-Term”

The Fenerbahçe High Council meeting took place at the Fenerbahçe Faruk Ilgaz Facilities in Kalamış. President Ali Koç’s comments on Galatasaray’s black-market ticket sales and illegal betting advertisements drew significant attention.

Here’s what Ali Koç said:

“There’s a lot to say, but limited time. May our team find success and good fortune in Trabzon. May God be with us. Both clubs are in contact, and we are confident that last year’s issues will not be repeated. May the deserving side win, but hopefully, that will be us.

I see that we are not only battling external forces but also each other. We have been encouraged to focus our energy on Fenerbahçe’s best interests, and I thank them for that. I respect everyone’s opinion. Some of our members are far removed from reality.

“We’ve Brought One of the Best Coaches in History”

Our biggest issue has been the lack of stability in football for many years, both in our term and before us. Another factor has been our community’s impatience in giving our coaches the time they need. Our board has countered this impatience by bringing in one of the most successful managers in world history. We’ve brought one of the best managers ever. Within our means, we assembled a solid squad—agree or disagree. We even stretched ourselves financially, taking calculated risks. Our squad is deep and versatile.

Our sports media and organized social media networks have already targeted Mr. Mourinho, as they did with our previous coach. Sadly, some fans have been influenced by this. Our coach faced criticism within just 8–9 weeks. A moment ago, a member stated in the 9th week that the championship is over. I don’t blame him. Our community has been conditioned into this mentality over the years.

“Our Plans with Mourinho are Long-Term”

We have a coach who brings Fenerbahçe’s struggles to the headlines of the global media and deserves love, respect, and patience. As the board, we fully stand by him. Our plans with him are long-term. Our top priority is ensuring he feels happy here, allowing him to focus on his job, team, players, training sessions, and opponents. We believe this is the path to success.

We hope our community awakens and embraces this vision. I say this because, with each setback or point loss, some so-called Fenerbahçe fan sites on social media shock me. I don’t believe they are true Fenerbahçe supporters. If our biggest enemy were to create a site, it couldn’t do a better job. I have no hope for them.

Recently, I see signs that the public is starting to unite, that people are becoming more aware. You speak up at every meeting; you say you’ve realized it, and masses are starting to realize it too. Those who have issues with us should criticize us as they please. We haven’t infringed on anyone’s democratic rights. We were heavily criticized on our own channel, FBTV, and we remained silent. Don’t hold those carrying the jersey accountable; hold us accountable.

If I had one wish, if I had a magic wand, it would be for Fenerbahçe fans—whether they love us or not, agree or disagree—to understand us and see what we are up against. This is what I wish for most. We suffer from the pain of being misunderstood, even when everything is clear and we explain ourselves repeatedly. Either we aren’t explaining well enough, or others’ fantasies are overshadowing our realities. Perhaps sites that appear to be Fenerbahçe supporters but are not have been created to lull you, to mobilize our younger members against us, to target us. We are bearing the brunt of this.”

“WHEN THE STRUCTURE COLLAPSES, WE WILL SEE HOW MUCH BENEFIT IT BRINGS TO OUR COUNTRY”

The winds are starting to shift. You will see that over time, Fenerbahçe will not compromise, will not step back from its principled stance, will hold tight to its values, and even if it does not achieve success in football, it will not deviate from what it knows to be right. When the structure is challenged and collapses, we will see how much great benefit it provides to our country. For us, it may be too late, but the value of our precious work will be evident after we are gone.

“WE WERE ATTACKED TREACHEROUSLY”

For us, the greatest success is that our club is not dependent on anyone. When our term ends, everyone will see how important this is. Despite all difficulties and obstacles, I said. I am mentioning the obstacles. A disgraceful incident occurred during the Göztepe match. We were attacked treacherously. We had gone to calm the atmosphere.

“WE ARE NOT RECEIVING FAIR TREATMENT”

Last week, a match was played between Galatasaray and Beşiktaş. A journalist who slapped a reporter— we do not condone violence in any way— was swiftly arrested. Please do not misinterpret this; we are a community that believes every Turkish citizen, regardless of their profession, social status, or gender, should be equal before the law. We are not asking for any privilege. However, it is our responsibility to question why we do not receive fair treatment.

“ACCORDING TO WHOM AND WHAT IS THE LAW ENFORCED?”

To the person who mocks the Beşiktaş president, who is a so-called media member, whose tweets portray a profile of a hooligan, and who was clearly identified by the police as being intoxicated when he came to the match, our ministers say, “Get well soon, we are following up.” These same individuals ignore the attack on the Fenerbahçe president. I wish they hadn’t come. I ask again, is this fair? According to whom and what is the law enforced?

We are competing with many clubs that are like public institutions supported by the state. You need to see this. We can build indoor sports halls, even though the owner is the state. Others get stadiums built, while we pay double the rent. Every year we pay our taxes down to the last penny while our rivals have their tax debts forgiven. Is this fair competition? Will the community raise its voice? Do those who attack us at the slightest points lost express this situation?

“THERE IS NO PROSECUTOR WHO IS A FENERBAHÇE, BEŞİKTAŞ, OR GALATASARAY FAN”

While we increase our sponsorship revenue by collaborating with Turkey’s major brands, one of our rivals shows an illegal betting site as a news site, creating immoral revenue, and in this black market scandal, no one speaks out sufficiently? Is it fair that the official authorities do not pursue this with all their strength? There is no prosecutor who is a Fenerbahçe fan, a Beşiktaş fan, or a Galatasaray fan.

“THE STRUCTURE PLAYS WITH THE FATES OF THE COMMUNITY”

Look at the last 10 and 5 years. The fact that Fenerbahçe does not have at least one championship is contrary to the natural course of life. Go and look at those tables. You cannot attribute this to luck. This structure is playing with the fates of the community. It harms us the most.

Is it normal that last year we received 5 red cards while Galatasaray received only 1? The same team saw 5 red cards in Europe. Is this a coincidence? Is it not our duty to ask whether this situation is fair? This year, similar patterns are beginning to emerge again.

“THIS IS THE STRUCTURE”

We are collecting 99 points. We win 4 out of 6 derbies. We lose points only once away, yet we still cannot become champions. If all referee mistakes are in favor of one team, then this is the structure. If a coach threatens referees on the field and it is not recorded in reports, then this is the structure. If certain individuals rebel when this structure is slightly challenged, then this is the structure. Those who listen to our statements with anger, those who feel fear inside, are the very parts of the structure. If files related to illegal activities are being closed, then this is the structure. Those who know all this and still say, ‘explain this structure,’ are the very structure itself. Wake up, Fenerbahçeliler, wake up.

“THE ISSUE OF BLACK MARKET TICKETS”

The issue of black market tickets is real. There’s no beating around the bush. We have brought this issue to the relevant authorities. An official asked, “Why does this concern you?” When we explained why it does, they agreed with us. Fenerbahçeliler, wake up, or they will cover this up too. We will pursue this matter. The ministry has started an investigation. We shared what we know. We even went a step further and said, “Investigate us too.” Now we will see whether our state will show its strength or cover this up. The figure mentioned is 56 million euros.

“ILLEGAL BETTING ADVERTISEMENT”

The issue of illegal betting… This is a sociological phenomenon. We all need to approach this with responsibility. This formation is entirely illegal. They have no official status either abroad or in our country. I ask the president of the opposing team, did you not research this at all on Google? Did it never cross your mind how a site established two months ago can give 14 million euros in sponsorship? The president says one thing, the vice president says another. Everything is evident. Encouraging illegal betting is a serious crime. They have been granted the opportunity to write entirely illegal sponsorship on the 119-year-old jersey.

“REPORTED TRANSFER COSTS”

Player contracts… We offer 7.5 million euros for a player and then walk away. Another club announces a deal to the KAP for 4.3 million euros. There’s a significant difference. The executives claim it is 7-8 million euros excluding agency fees. This needs to be investigated. There are 5-6 players like this. They will all come out. No one is taking action.

How is this funded? What if the differences are paid through black market dealings? We have an agreement with the Banks Association. Every penny is halved. This is money earned outside the system. There are spending limits, and more importantly, we are calculating every detail to fit the coach and the squad within the spending limit. They say 4.350, 7-8. There’s a 3 million difference, which becomes 4.5 with tax for one player. This does not fit into the spending limit.

You are somehow manipulating the spending limits, avoiding taxes, bypassing the banking structure. And the gentleman says, “Why does this concern you?” This is why it concerns us.

“ARDA KARDEŞLER”

I do not understand the referee assignments made last week. Djiku was sent off by Arda Kardeşler for a foul that every commentator said was not a foul in the 24th minute… Thankfully, we won that match. They assigned that same person again in the first derby. What kind of understanding is this? Fenerbahçeliler, roar and react to this. As long as this same gangrene structure continues its activities, it will be impossible for waters to calm in Turkish football. Last week, 6 yellow cards and 2 red cards were ignored. VAR cannot intervene with yellow cards. This is how a perfect crime is committed. This community is extraordinarily protected both on and off the field. We will come out of this.

“GOOD THINGS WILL HAPPEN IN TURKEY”

The TFF’s management on that day was overthrown by a natural alliance in an election that it believed would gain a 1 million percent profit. People were fed up with the confiscation of their free will. They were tired of their votes being directed through threats, intimidation, and rewards. I see light at the end of the tunnel. Our hope is increasing. Good things will happen in Turkey. We are pursuing not our own bread, like other clubs, but fair competition and the principles and values of the Republic. We will not compromise on these.

“THE NEW FEDERATION IS UNDER OPERATION BY THE STRUCTURE”

Personally, I see that since June, there has been an effort to create a just football climate. I want to reiterate this serious warning. You are currently being operated on by the structure. You are being pitted against Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş, and even Trabzonspor. They know that if you succeed, there will be cleaning in many areas. The new TFF should be given a chance and time. We have no doubts about their intentions. We need to see actions. May God grant them luck, strength, power, and patience because if they can solve this problem, we will have solved a major issue for Turkey.”