Fenerbahçe has decided to participate in the Ziraat Turkey Cup.

After the extraordinary meeting held on January 6, Monday, at Fenerbahçe, a decision was made regarding the Turkish Cup. President Ali Koç, who held a press conference about the agenda for the yellow-navy blue team, announced the decision.

FENERBAHÇE WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE TURKISH CUP

Fenerbahçe President Ali Koç announced that Fenerbahçe will participate in the Turkish Cup.

FOREIGN VAR REFEREE DECISION WAS EFFECTIVE

The decision of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) regarding foreign VAR referees was influential in Fenerbahçe's decision. The federation had not officially announced during the day that there would be foreign referees in VAR starting from the 20th week of the league. Following this development, President Ali Koç announced the decision to participate in the Turkish Cup.

HE HAD ENTERED THE SUPER CUP MATCH AGAINST GALATASARAY WITH U19

The Turkish Cup champion of the 2022-2023 season, Fenerbahçe, entered the Super Cup match against the Super League champion Galatasaray on April 7, 2024, with the U19 team and withdrew from the match in the second minute. In the first minute of the match, Mauro Icardi scored the goal that put Galatasaray ahead, and then Fenerbahçe did not take the center, and referee Volkan Bayarslan suspended the match. Later, the yellow-reds were declared the winners with a score of 3-0 by default.

FULL STATEMENTS OF ALİ KOÇ

"I hope this year will be a year in which we, as a country, run from success to success abroad in Turkish football and step by step create a fair competitive environment at home."

"I will speak as briefly as possible. I will complete the topics I want to touch on with questions. We aim to finish within 2 hours."

"The point we have reached in social media and among fans, our decision regarding the Turkish Cup, how we came to this decision, what has happened since April 2, along with giving some examples regarding rights, law, and justice, I aim to make you ask yourself whether justice is the foundation of property for Turkish football."

"In 2018, we were elected with great expectations and by a large margin. Our goal was very clear. That’s why there was a significant difference in the election. Fenerbahçe was going through a drought period, not being able to become champions for 4 years. We were playing in front of 10-15 thousand people in the stands. Ending this drought, reconciling with the stands, and improving economically. Achieving financial independence as soon as possible, at least putting it on a path of no return. Continuing by developing the vision of being the world's most successful sports club. Although we achieved serious successes in 2 of our 3 goals, the seasons we left behind did not develop as we aimed for in terms of football."

"The flagship is football; as we did not achieve success, the desire and expectation increased even more. The serious successes in the other two areas did not have enough of a counterpart. We understand this. In this sense, we have disappointed our community. We are also very saddened. We all experienced disappointment together; we are sad. We are naturally unhappy."

REFERENCE TO GALATASARAY

"The unnamed greatness of Fenerbahçe comes from its strong and independent character. We have worked day and night to ensure that this character is not compromised and that our community, which has its own remedy for every problem, does not bow its head. While our eternal rival indulges in black market tickets and money from illegal betting, and while they put the names of illegal betting sites on the century-old jersey, we have not put a single illegal lira into Fenerbahçe's coffers, and we are proud of it."

"Fenerbahçe competes at the highest level internationally in 8 of its 9 branches. Naturally, when there is no success in football, you cannot experience the pride of that success."

FANS' REACTION

In some matches we played this year, despite having gone so far last year, in the last match, let alone official matches, even when everything was fine this year, during the friendly match we played against Zenit, while we were leading 2-1, the reactions of our fans rose from the stands. We understand these grievances to a certain extent. We appreciate it to a certain extent. The feelings, expectations, beliefs, and support of our fans are the only source of motivation and strength for Fenerbahçe both on and off the field. However, the balances have changed. Think of this season as a football match. The team entered the second half losing 2-1; there is a whole second half left. Is it wise to support the team as they come out for the second half, or to protest and pull them down? There are still 45 minutes left in the match. There is one half and one match left in the season. How many examples are there of coming back from 8-10 points to become champions? But it is necessary to believe. Success does not come in this negative environment. If the Fenerbahçe fans want, no one can stand in their way.

We have come to a point where we are in a mood to react to Tadic, who has contributed 14 goals with 7 goals and 7 assists in 17 matches this season, has not missed a single match, and has contributed with 24 goals and 27 assists in 83 matches. Who does this benefit, we need to calculate.

In Samandıra, our players ask, why can't you stop this? We experienced it during Mesut Özil's time. Even if it is a reaction to a player, they do not want to receive the ball. They feel this deeply. They ask us why this was not prevented. I want our community to think about the damage this situation causes to the team.

Tell us what you want before and after the match, but I ask our community to support all our athletes who wear that badge. They should weigh the reactions they give for Fenerbahçe in their conscience. Support and patience until the end of the season. Whether to give or not is the fans' decision. The fans are the host; we are the passengers. The hosts will decide. What kind of environment do they want in their own homes?

Are we going to turn Kadıköy, which we call our temple, into an away game for our team, or are we going to give infinite support?

There is a group that says the management cannot protect our rights. How much do you protect our team's rights in the stands? While we cannot even say that the referee's mistakes are mistakes in some stands, how much unified reaction can be given in our stands? Are we not aware that we do not have the spirit of the fans who turn matches around and win?

Are you aware that they are trying to destroy our Fenerbahçe, which they cannot bring down from the outside, from the inside? Today it is done to this president, tomorrow it will be done to another president. We have seen what the change of president has cost in some clubs.

"IS IT POSSIBLE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT?"

There is a very active and strong mentality trying to sever the bond between our fans, our coach, and our team. On July 3, do you not see that some so-called media members within our community, so-called Fenerbahçe media members, are directing our fan groups? In short, we need to solve this issue. No success will come in such a negative environment. We will continue to believe, work, fight, and struggle. We believe in our coach and our team.

Sometimes you may not be satisfied with the football being played; we sometimes are not either. Is the aggressive, pressing, dominant football that all of us want possible in this environment?

"THE ONLY SUPPORT EXPECTED FROM ATHLETES"

The only support our athletes expect is sincere support. Whatever you say is your right; we do not interfere. We live in such perceptions that since I came, I have been with my friends for the 3rd...

In my term, we did not engage in any kind of tribune engineering. They say we are canceling the season tickets, look at the perception. A total of 62 season tickets have been canceled this season, 49 of which are on the black market, for which teams are working hard. These individuals are the teams negotiating with our team. There are reasons such as death, relocation, change of residence, and dissatisfaction with the location. There are 4 cancellations. One person urinated on a fan. Another started a fight. The third threw foreign objects onto the field. The last one was a person who caused a commotion, saying let's raid Samandıra, let's raid the club, let's beat the players. One person. We are in a community that is ready to buy so many lies and slanders that these are gaining traction.

"THE TRABZONSPOR MATCH OVERFLOWED THE CUP"

On March 17 last season, during the match we played against Trabzonspor, both the lynching attempt during and after the match overflowed the cup for Fenerbahçe. The extraordinary general assembly process was ignited on April 2. The decisions taken are known to all of us. I sadly witnessed that a part of our community said that the congress we held the other day was in vain. The changes in Turkish football since that date show how effective our community's stance was on that day. The situation we are in today is a football order that started to be woven at the end of the 90s, openly established during the known organization period.

"WE ARE FIGHTING"

In one day, this order cannot be changed with 3 steps. This is everyone's problem. Is this the environment we envision for the Turkish people? However, we are the ones fighting. Things are changing. Other coaches are speaking, other clubs are getting involved.

"IGNITED THE FUSE OF CHANGE"

On the same date, signatures were collected for the current TFF change at the Clubs Union Foundation. Then, in the Super Cup match, we played with the U19 team to hold the option of participating in the Turkish Cup with the authority we received from here. What we experienced there, which resonated in the world press, was actually one of the moves that ignited the fuse of change.

WORDS TO DURSUN ÖZBEK

Who said the dirtiest federation in history should resign, who said I would sign but met with the then TFF president in Urfa 2 hours before the match to strategize for the continuation of Mr. Büyükekşi's presidency? Mr. Dursun Özbek.

"DURSUN ÖZBEK IS LYING"

He holds a meeting but accuses the TFF President of having secret meetings in villas over a non-existent meeting. He said, 'Let's join the TV,' and I didn't join, etc. It's completely a lie! He is lying to our faces!

"THE MOST BIASED PRESIDENT IN HISTORY"

On April 12, the TFF decided on a foreign VAR referee. It was lacking because it had not been given to every team. On July 18, the federation of Büyükekşi, who thought everyone would win and was one of the most biased presidents in history, was removed from Turkish football by an organic, natural coalition of reactions and an unnamed coalition. Hopefully, never to return.

"THE TOPIC THAT EXCITES ME THE MOST"

With the new administration, the committees changed. Many dubious referees were changed, and they will continue to be changed. Young referees were brought in, and currently, the desired results are not being achieved, but the reason is the mechanism in VAR. The TFF proposed a new model for MHK. A single type of contract. Why is this important? Very, very important. That contract includes salary, image rights, sponsorship, etc. You can no longer say you played a player for 12 million and reported 4 or 5 to the SPK. You cannot evade the state's taxes. You will not deceive the TFF's spending limits. One of the topics that excites me the most is the single type of contract.

It is said that a foreign VAR will be used in the second half, even if it is ambiguous. We welcomed this as Fenerbahçe. The ambiguous part is because it has been said for a while. A few weeks or the second half? If foreign VAR is not going to be applied in all matches, we will not support it. The biggest gross errors occur in Anatolian matches. Last year, the 4 teams that were relegated were the ones who signed to get rid of Büyükekşi; is it a coincidence? Foreign VAR should be in all matches.

A public awareness has emerged regarding the injustices and disgraceful situations in Turkish football. Those who have been wronged are now making rebellious statements and confessions.

"PEOPLE ARE TALKING NOW"

Göztepe, Sergen Yalçın, Çağdaş Atan, today Mr. Şansal's article, yesterday Mr. Mehmet Arslan's article, the statements of Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor after the Galatasaray matches. People are aware; people are talking now.

"Why is Fenerbahçe the only one dealing with betting, mafia, gang, illegal sector? Is it only Fenerbahçe that has to deal with this? When we brought these issues to the agenda, operations started. Today I saw in the newspaper that 40 different people who have become public in the last 2 months have been detained for making illegal betting advertisements.

THE BIGGEST LIE IN TURKISH SPORTS HISTORY

They will do everything to prevent a fair competitive environment. Today there is an article in Fotomaç, claiming that we wanted foreign referees while Fenerbahçe did not; I don't know if the Galatasaray secretary really said this? 'My fight is to bring justice to everyone for Turkish football,' said Mr. Dursun. The biggest lie in Turkish sports history. Today's news in Fotomaç is equally equivalent.