05.02.2025 13:51
Fenerbahçe President Ali Koç testified in court regarding the events that occurred after the Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derby played last season. According to the allegation, Fenerbahçe Board Member Selahattin Baki had insulted Galatasaray Board Member Eray Yazgan. Ali Koç was heard as a witness in the trial of Baki, who is being prosecuted based on this allegation.
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After the Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derby in the 37th week of the Super League played last season, Fenerbahçe Board Member Selahattin Baki was tried for allegedly insulting Galatasaray Sports Club Board Member Eray Yazgan, and Fenerbahçe Club President Ali Koç testified as a "witness."
ALI KOÇ TESTIFIED
At the first hearing at the Istanbul 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance, the defendant Selahattin Baki and the parties' lawyers attended. The defendant Selahattin Baki, whose defense was taken, stated that he was the football branch manager and spokesperson of Fenerbahçe Sports Club at the time of the incident, and that he had the right to enter and exit everywhere on the field due to his accreditation card.
Baki explained that Fenerbahçe won the match, and after the Galatasaray team's spectators left the stadium, the players went onto the field to celebrate as a team, and during this time, club president Ali Koç also came onto the field.
Baki noted that Galatasaray employees tried to prevent the celebration, stating, "Afterwards, while we were going to leave the stadium through the tunnel where the dressing rooms were, I saw blood on the president's hand. I think it happened during the scuffle. At that moment, I saw and heard four Galatasaray members, one of whom was the complainant Eray Yazgan, insulting the president while pointing fingers at him. I then told the president not to make hand gestures and used foul language."
Baki claimed that he did not direct the mentioned statements towards the complainant Yazgan and stated that Ali Koç was also angry with him afterwards.
ALI KOÇ'S STATEMENT
Fenerbahçe Sports Club President Ali Koç was also heard as a "witness" during the hearing.
Koç explained that they went to the stadium for the victory celebration on match day, saying, "Like every winning team, we wanted to take photos and celebrate, but due to the opposing side's interventions, scuffles occurred. The incident in question happened as we were leaving the field. I was warning everyone to stay calm. There were shouting and tensions. However, I did not hear any insulting remarks directed at us from the opposing side or from the defendant towards the opposing side. As the shouting increased, I warned my friends. When it continued, the first person I turned to was the defendant behind me, so I warned him." The court, announcing its interim decision, ruled for a compulsory appearance order for witnesses Mesut Erbil and Filiz Umur, who did not attend the hearing. The hearing was adjourned to address the missing issues.
FROM THE INDICTMENT
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Mediation Bureau, it is stated that after the Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derby in the 37th week of the Trendyol Super League played on May 19, 2024, a scuffle occurred among the fans after the technical staff, managers, and players of Fenerbahçe Sports Club entered the field to celebrate their victory.
It is reported in the indictment that an investigation was opened upon the complaint of Galatasaray Sports Club Board Member Eray Yazgan's lawyer, and it is noted that it was determined from the video footage submitted to the file that Baki insulted Yazgan.
The indictment requests that the defendant Selahattin Baki be sentenced to imprisonment from 3 months and 15 days to 2 years and 4 months for the crime of "insult."
It is also stated in the indictment that the crime of "insult" is subject to reconciliation, but reconciliation could not be achieved between the defendant and the complainant as a result of negotiations between the parties.
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