Fenerbaçe Official Slams Şahin For Likening Yıldırım To Opposition Parties

The secretary-general of the Fenerbahçe sports club, Mahmut Uslu, has strongly criticized Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Chairman Mehmet Ali Şahin for comparing the behavior of club Chairman Aziz Yıldırım with that of opposition parties, saying that politicians should not “politicize sport.”

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Uslu criticized Şahin for likening Yıldırım to deputies of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which refused to take part in the interim government formed last week. Yıldırım had previously said that he would not allow basketball players from Fenerbahçe to join the national team at the EuroBasket 2015 championship to be organized between Sept. 5-20.

“Politicians should restrict themselves to politics. … I'm speaking about Mehmet Ali Şahin. He should do politics and not meddle in other affairs [such as sport]. … Please do not involve us in politics, or we will be even more critical of you,” said Uslu.

(Cihan/Today's Zaman)