06.04.2026 20:01
In recent days, Fenerbahçe football player Mert Hakan Yandaş, who was recently released, shared a thank you message on his social media account. The experienced midfielder expressed his gratitude to Fenerbahçe's former President Ali Koç and his son Kerim Rahmi Koç, as well as to Aziz Yıldırım's daughter Yaz Yıldırım, while notably not mentioning the name of Fenerbahçe President Sadettin Saran.
After being detained due to a football betting investigation, Fenerbahçe player Mert Hakan Yandaş was released on Friday, April 3, and made a post on his social media account.
DID NOT MENTION SADETTİN SARAN'S NAME
In his post, Mert Hakan thanked Fenerbahçe's former President Ali Koç and his son Kerim Rahmi Koç, as well as Aziz Yıldırım's daughter Yaz Yıldırım, for their support during his time in prison, but did not mention Fenerbahçe President Sadettin Saran's name.
Here is Mert Hakan's statement:
First of all, hello everyone. It is truly an indescribable feeling for me to be able to meet with you again here today after a long time, leaving behind that painful process I experienced and opening a clean page.
This process taught me the most about patience, resistance, and most importantly, who extends their hand to disperse the darkness in a person's darkest moments. Of course, there were times when I was tired, silent, and moments when storms erupted inside me; but I never lost my hope for a single day, nor my faith for a single moment. Life, while testing us with the toughest exams, actually wants us to discover the true strength within us. The main issue is not just to survive that exam; it is to walk towards the future while preserving those unshakeable values in your soul.
Before thanking the people who stood by me during this process, there is one person I need to thank specifically. I am infinitely grateful to my president Ali Koç, who cared for me and my family like a father every minute from the first day to the last day of this difficult situation we experienced. I will be grateful to him for the rest of my life.
I express my gratitude to my dear family and friends who stood tall beside me during this arduous journey; to the great Fenerbahçe fans and community, who are my breath and never gave up believing in me.
I sincerely thank Kerim Rahmi Koç and Yaz Yıldırım, as well as our High Advisory Board President Mr. Şekip Mosturoğlu and Ali Alper Alpoğlu, and our current and former board members for their support on this challenging path.
I want to take a special moment to mention my valuable lawyers who defended my rights during this difficult period; Cem Uysaler, Mert Öcel, Serkan Sarıyaprak, Ece Uysaler, Uğur Töker, Batu Mosturoğlu, Cihan Öztürk, Hasan Yaşa, Doğukan Şenol, Canan Peker, Mehmet Akif Albayrak, and Oğuzhan Alhan. You did not just fight a legal battle; you became friends, you became brothers. Your patience, effort, and the hand you extended every time I fell became the brightest light in the darkness for me. I will never forget your efforts for the rest of my life.
Finally, I would like to say a few words about the process I experienced: From the first day, I must say with confidence that as a soldier who has placed only and solely the interests of Fenerbahçe in the highest corner of his heart, I have never had the slightest thought against my club since the day I signed. As someone whose only concern is the success of Fenerbahçe and the happiness of this community, today the conscience of the public has certified this.
I sincerely thank everyone, especially the great Fenerbahçe fans, who supported me and never withheld their prayers and good wishes. Your presence gave me courage and unwavering hope for the future.
With my warmest love and respect to you all...