24.10.2026 16:00
Fenerbahçe President Aziz Yıldırım announced a remarkable development regarding the yellow-navy club's stadium. Yıldırım stated that it has been proposed to allocate the new 75,000-seat stadium, planned to be built for the EURO 2032 final, to Fenerbahçe and for the club to move from Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, and said that the final decision would belong to the congress.
Fenerbahçe President Aziz Yıldırım made important statements about the club's stadium project at the Ordinary High Divan Board Meeting. Stating that they are carrying out work to increase the capacity of the current stadium, Yıldırım announced that during talks with government officials, the option of moving to a new 75,000-seat stadium also came onto the agenda.
75,000-SEAT STADIUM FOR THE EURO 2032 FINAL
Stating that the aim is for the EURO 2032 final match, which Turkey will co-host with Italy, to be played in Turkey, Yıldırım said that a new stadium project is being worked on to this end.
Yıldırım said, “Now there is a stadium issue. Some people in the management before us and the management before that entered into dialogue with the state. And as a result of this dialogue, the state obtained the 2032 European Football Championship from UEFA to co-host with the Italians. Now they want the 2032 final to be played in Turkey. But for this, they also want to build a 75,000-seat stadium and are carrying out work with the desire for the final to be played in this stadium. Now they have spoken with our managements and reached certain stages, but when the management left, the ball was left with us. The ball is with us.” He used these statements.
“LEAVE SARACOĞLU AND COME HERE”
Explaining that the projects prepared to enlarge the current stadium have been delivered to the relevant ministries, Yıldırım stated that he held meetings in Ankara to accelerate the works.
Saying that during these meetings the new stadium option came onto the agenda again, Yıldırım relayed the offer made to them in these words:
“Nihat Bey, God bless him, prepared the projects regarding the enlargement of the existing stadium. We submitted them to both the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Environment. To speed this up, I also went to Ankara with two friends of mine; we sat down and talked with the Minister of Environment so that the projects would be accelerated and we could start. He brought this issue up again. He said: ‘We have such and such an idea; if you wish, let us allocate this stadium to you. You leave Saracoğlu and come here.’ In front of my friends, I said this: ‘I will not say yes to anything that is not in Fenerbahçe's interest.’”
“THE CONGRESS DECIDES”
Emphasizing that no decision has yet been taken regarding moving to the new stadium, Yıldırım stated that if a concrete offer protecting the club's interests is presented, he will open the matter to the congress's evaluation.
Yıldırım said, “However, if I see something beneficial, you bring it on paper, you say, ‘Look, this is what we will do, this is how it will be’; if we have requests, we put them there too, and if you accept them, then I will convene the congress and take this to the congress. The congress decides; positive or negative, I don't know.” he said.
FEASIBILITY STUDY BEING CONDUCTED FOR THE NEW STADIUM
Stating that the offer is still at the preparation stage, Yıldırım said that the conditions will become clear after the feasibility study to be carried out.
Yıldırım said, “We spoke in this way. They are making preparations; this preparation is also a feasibility study. What will they do, how will they do it, what do they want to give us... During this conversation, we expressed that our interests must be protected. I said that if it doesn't work out, I won't convene the congress anyway, know that. If it is to be done with those who come after me, it will be done.” he said.
“I HAVE NEVER BARGAINED WITH THE STATE”
Continuing his speech and also touching on his past presidential periods, Yıldırım said that he never bargained with the state for his personal commercial interests.
Yıldırım said, “I never bargained with the state to get business. I served as president of this club for 20 years. When I came, I had a lot of money; in 1998-99, I gave the club 30 million dollars in the money of that time. They came and took the money from the company in sacks. Out of fear, fear of the tax office, we converted all the money into Turkish liras. We converted the money we gave at that time into Turkish liras, it did not appear as a debt in dollars, and we cleared the debt.” he said.
“FENERBAHÇE HAS A SEPARATE PLACE FOR ME”
Emphasizing his commitment to the club, Yıldırım also reacted harshly to the commercial interest allegations made about him. Yıldırım said, “I stayed outside for 8 years. I was respected everywhere. I met and still meet very important people. I have had no business for personal gain in Turkey or abroad. I am not a scoundrel who would say, ‘They will give me a job’; I am saying this to the scoundrels who wrote that. Everyone must know that Fenerbahçe has a separate place for me. We came to stop this bloodshed. By overcoming that negative atmosphere in public opinion, let us put this on a proper track together. After that, let us say may God help Fenerbahçe.” he said.