Fenerbahce CEO Aziz Yildirim organised a press meeting on Wednesday (27.05) stating his reasons to stay as CEO at the club, possibilities of him leaving his post, situations at the club, future of Ismail Kartal and recalled the match-fixing case of Galatasaray which took place in 1990 in the Bursaspor game. Complete announcement by Yildirim is below:
"I was thinking of leaving my post today as the CEO of the club. But as I saw newspapers, I changed my mind. Their were threatening me. They said "If I did not leave my post, we would shoot you". I was not afraid of anyone for 17 years. I didnt take any place at politics for 17 years. Inside we have many people supporting different parties and different ideas. I did not manage a club with those thoughts ever. In here only democracy can take place, no monarchy. I have only one worry and its not for us to be champions or not. My only case is to clean all the dirt which is being thrown towards Fenerbahce Sports Club. We are fighting for this. I just wish the court case makes either a positive or negative verdict. If it will be positive it means we managed to clean our club otherwise I will leave my post. I would explain everything at the Saturday General Meeting. I could make a 50 million dollar transfer and leave the club at debt. But then we would not have tomorrow.
If this article was not released in the paper, I would speak differently today. But I am candidate as a response to this threatening notice which was written by people who dont want to give their names. When the court case will make the decision about me, I will make a new decision and general meeting the next day. I will give all my bad and good incidents I did in 17 years to the general meeting. I am not accountable to few unknown people. I am not afraid of the threats. Threats give me more ambition. Meeting will take place on Saturday, everyone can come out and say they promises to everyone. We have not gone to Europe in three years now. If the court decision would be positive, we would give everything. The girls basketball team was closing down when I came to my post. In 10 years time we became champions.
Galatasaray didn't win the league for 13 years. Some people came and started throwing eggs at the club bus. Our team was gunned down in Rize. Any actions made outside of meeting towards club, would find me standing beside them. They would be more helpful had they given the money to the club instead of the newspaper.
We will respect anyone that the congress will choose. Who would be chosen we will refer to as CEO. Those barbarians would not be able to come here. I would name everyone who was responsible for this. The person who wrote that notice was working aside me for long time. I am waiting for everyone at the meeting. I am not asking anyone to support me. Did you see any threat from me in 17 years? Is there any better democratic system than this? You can't be candidate, show joint candidate? Who is this joint candidate? Show it to us and we judge him. There is nothing. You came tomorrow but with what budget, what are your investments? If Aziz Yildirim leaves, Fenerbahce will make election every 3 months. Alex came, Ortega came, Balic came to the club. I have spend 30 million dollars from my own pocket to this club. Can anyone saiy that Aziz Yildirim took money from the government or someone else? I gave my life to Fenerbahce. They say there is no love. I am walking around Istanbul, other Turkish cities and I don't have any bodyguard around me. I didnt only show ones that betray club with my love. They only put money in my pocket for the benefits. I had 10 close friends working with me during those 17 years.
I have said that I take all responsibility for Ismail Kartal. I am the reason why we did not become champions. But the club would become swamp. Lets all the members of the club come to the election and give their votes. The one who continue those successes should come and give their votes. After decision noone, including me, would not sell any shares of the club. There are 1000 people working at club, did anyone hear that someone didnt get paid at the time? When I came to the club athletes and personel didnt get paid for 3-4 months. People forget that.
They said we did match-fixing on July 3rd 2011 and we went to prison. They do match-fixing for 30 years in this country. You are blaming me but what about (1990 incident) Bursaspor goalkeeper Yurtasen Karahan who had payments done and the case has sent to court? The federation didnt give punishment (to Galatasaray) in 2-3 weeks. Found this news in Milliyet from 1990. We didnt only speak about this today. It was justified at court but they were punished like it was fraud. If we would be cleared tomorrow by the court, would we have deserved so much insults towards us?"
We were at the courts for involvement at a paraller organisation. They say it was plot that we took money to Sivas and it was in Ilhan's dress bag. He took money and went to his house to sleep. If you put 100 dollars under a blanket you would not be able to sleep. Anyway, there are many things to say. This notice in the newspaper has changed my mind and my thoughts and I will be a candidate.
I dont want to sit at the tribune. I want to be sad when Fenerbahce loses but then go to my house and sleep comfortably. But I cant do this right now. I am getting sad getting home and cant sleep and thinking why I am CEO of this club."
"I was thinking of leaving my post today as the CEO of the club. But as I saw newspapers, I changed my mind. Their were threatening me. They said "If I did not leave my post, we would shoot you". I was not afraid of anyone for 17 years. I didnt take any place at politics for 17 years. Inside we have many people supporting different parties and different ideas. I did not manage a club with those thoughts ever. In here only democracy can take place, no monarchy. I have only one worry and its not for us to be champions or not. My only case is to clean all the dirt which is being thrown towards Fenerbahce Sports Club. We are fighting for this. I just wish the court case makes either a positive or negative verdict. If it will be positive it means we managed to clean our club otherwise I will leave my post. I would explain everything at the Saturday General Meeting. I could make a 50 million dollar transfer and leave the club at debt. But then we would not have tomorrow.
If this article was not released in the paper, I would speak differently today. But I am candidate as a response to this threatening notice which was written by people who dont want to give their names. When the court case will make the decision about me, I will make a new decision and general meeting the next day. I will give all my bad and good incidents I did in 17 years to the general meeting. I am not accountable to few unknown people. I am not afraid of the threats. Threats give me more ambition. Meeting will take place on Saturday, everyone can come out and say they promises to everyone. We have not gone to Europe in three years now. If the court decision would be positive, we would give everything. The girls basketball team was closing down when I came to my post. In 10 years time we became champions.
Galatasaray didn't win the league for 13 years. Some people came and started throwing eggs at the club bus. Our team was gunned down in Rize. Any actions made outside of meeting towards club, would find me standing beside them. They would be more helpful had they given the money to the club instead of the newspaper.
We will respect anyone that the congress will choose. Who would be chosen we will refer to as CEO. Those barbarians would not be able to come here. I would name everyone who was responsible for this. The person who wrote that notice was working aside me for long time. I am waiting for everyone at the meeting. I am not asking anyone to support me. Did you see any threat from me in 17 years? Is there any better democratic system than this? You can't be candidate, show joint candidate? Who is this joint candidate? Show it to us and we judge him. There is nothing. You came tomorrow but with what budget, what are your investments? If Aziz Yildirim leaves, Fenerbahce will make election every 3 months. Alex came, Ortega came, Balic came to the club. I have spend 30 million dollars from my own pocket to this club. Can anyone saiy that Aziz Yildirim took money from the government or someone else? I gave my life to Fenerbahce. They say there is no love. I am walking around Istanbul, other Turkish cities and I don't have any bodyguard around me. I didnt only show ones that betray club with my love. They only put money in my pocket for the benefits. I had 10 close friends working with me during those 17 years.
I have said that I take all responsibility for Ismail Kartal. I am the reason why we did not become champions. But the club would become swamp. Lets all the members of the club come to the election and give their votes. The one who continue those successes should come and give their votes. After decision noone, including me, would not sell any shares of the club. There are 1000 people working at club, did anyone hear that someone didnt get paid at the time? When I came to the club athletes and personel didnt get paid for 3-4 months. People forget that.
They said we did match-fixing on July 3rd 2011 and we went to prison. They do match-fixing for 30 years in this country. You are blaming me but what about (1990 incident) Bursaspor goalkeeper Yurtasen Karahan who had payments done and the case has sent to court? The federation didnt give punishment (to Galatasaray) in 2-3 weeks. Found this news in Milliyet from 1990. We didnt only speak about this today. It was justified at court but they were punished like it was fraud. If we would be cleared tomorrow by the court, would we have deserved so much insults towards us?"
We were at the courts for involvement at a paraller organisation. They say it was plot that we took money to Sivas and it was in Ilhan's dress bag. He took money and went to his house to sleep. If you put 100 dollars under a blanket you would not be able to sleep. Anyway, there are many things to say. This notice in the newspaper has changed my mind and my thoughts and I will be a candidate.
I dont want to sit at the tribune. I want to be sad when Fenerbahce loses but then go to my house and sleep comfortably. But I cant do this right now. I am getting sad getting home and cant sleep and thinking why I am CEO of this club."
