Galatasaray Coach Fatih Terim and captain Arda Turan made statements when they landed in Istanbul after the scandal in Greece.
FATİH TERİM’S WORDS:
Moving to Greece to play a friendly match with Olympiakos, Galatasaray faced a test scandal in Athens. The Greek authorities did not accept the valid PCR tests, and first they wanted to do a quick test for some names in the convoy, including Coach Fatih Terim. Although this was accepted, this time the whole group was asked to be tested and the yellow-red people did not accept this malicious approach and returned to the country. Galatasaray’s coach Fatih Terim, who landed in Istanbul at midnight, made statements at the airport. Fatih Terim, who started his speech by saying that Galatasaray knows the international rules very well, said, “It is one of the clubs that have gained the most this experience in all matches in the world. We were all tested 24 hours ago. And we all went there with the documents of both the PCR and all the tests. They said we’d have a quick test when we landed. According to the agreement between the two countries, both parties accept the PCR test results. But they asked us for a quick test. Although we asked why, they said they have been doing this for the last 2 days. We did not object. They said it would be random, not for everyone. Even I was among these random names. They also took pictures of the PCR tests we had. They also said that some names are not needed. These names also passed through the passport. Some officers said, ‘No, it won’t happen’. Selcuk Hodja, Necati Hodja, masseurs and equipment manufacturers went out with their entry stamps. That’s why we said there were people who came out. In addition, there are tourists who leave without taking the test. However, they said, ‘Call everyone, everyone will be tested’. They wanted to recall the names stamped on their passports and take a test. After that, our task was to return.”
“FRIENDLY MATCH IS WITH FRIENDS”
Saying that the behavior is not friendly, Terim said, “Friendly matches are with friends. This was not a friendly gesture. After the incident, we said that we are going back. The decision to return was more correct. After these events, our President, our Minister of Foreign Affairs, our Minister of Sports, Turkish Airlines General Manager, our Ambassador and Consul General did not fail to show their interest. I thank them endlessly. A person instantly feels very strong when they hear their voice. A few hours passed while we were contemplating how to get back as soon as possible. Our football players were bored, tired and hungry. We wanted to go to the lounge there, but they didn’t let me. Then they asked for our passports. When we asked why, they said they would ‘deport’. Everyone knows what that means and we said we wouldn’t give our passports away. Despite asking several times, we insisted that we would not give it. My captains stood by, but they did not let him. We were forced to stay there. First there was no water, then they gave water. Our friends from Olympiakos Club tried a lot but it didn’t work. After making that decision, they still said to us, ‘Come and take the test all together’. It was best not to stay there. The President of the Olympiakos Club also called me. I thank him. It is a fact that everyone knows how we and every club take our guests from the airport and show interest. I do not see this as a move made against Galatasaray. This is very clear. In the delicate balance of recent years, this behavior has not been pleasant. Neither the style, nor the attitude, nor the way of acting was pleasant. We are not the people to bow to them, nor are we a club. “We decided what needed to be done and we came back.”
“WE DO THE SAME AGAIN IF TOMORROW”
Saying that they did what needed to be done in Greece, Fatih Terim said, “Life is full of experiences. We came across this today. Whatever it took, we did it. We will do the same again tomorrow. For us, following the rules is the most important task. We went by following any rule. We do not have any shortcomings. I just read it, they said ‘We asked for a test but they didn’t get it’. I’ve been tested, it has both a recording and an image. Many people have been tested. In addition, you take it out without checking anyone. You are recalling people whose passports you have stamped. Everyone knows what he did,” he said. Saying that they want to play a friendly match in Istanbul, Terim said, “We are trying to get a friendly match in Istanbul. There is no change in our schedule. If not, we will prepare with our normal training. We were going to play 1 more game, we will make up for this game. We go to Greece every year, and we will go again from now on. I say it again, no one has the Turkish hospitality. It is not nice to have other subjects in football. No one can treat us like that. From here, I would like to thank our President, our Minister of Foreign Affairs, who called 3 times, our Minister of Sports, and everyone who protects and watches over there.”
WORDS OF ARDA TURAN:
Galatasaray Team Captain Arda Turan made a statement to the press at the airport.
Arda Turan stated that they faced behavior against human rights in Greece. Unfortunately, despite the fact that we did not do anything, we were all negative, we unfortunately encountered behavior against human rights. More than half of us went to the bus. We were called back from the bus in an inexplicable way. We tried to help the Greek authorities in every way possible, but unfortunately their attitude was compelling and disrespectful. As Galatasaray Club, it was impossible for us to act otherwise. But of course, our teacher tried to help by keeping all his calm. But unfortunately we encountered the opposite behavior. A friendly match should have been in a friendly way. Unfortunately, we did not encounter this attitude. We continue in the same way as we treat our guests who come to our country. we will. It was not a sad, boring, unbecoming international relations day. We were upset. We would like to thank every institution of our state, our president, our esteemed foreign minister, our sports minister, who are with us. They all tried to help with their best intentions. We would like to thank everyone who supported us, the clubs and the Turkish people. Frankly, we are not in favor of exaggerating such events. We are always on the side of peace and goodness. But today we are both tired and very sad,” he said.
“SOME OF US WERE ELECTED TO ACCEPT THE TEST”
Arda Turan pointed out that although they had their tests done, some football players among them agreed to be tested, but the behavior afterwards was not pleasant, adding, “There is an agreement between our country and Greece. The tests of the countries are mutually accepted. We had our tests done up to 48 hours ago, even. “Some of us were chosen and accepted this test. They also behaved in this way to the arriving passengers. However, being called back after we went to the bus and the behavior afterwards was not nice. I still thank the whole group for their patience,” he said.
“WE DON’T STRICT ANYONE’S HEALTH, WE WILL NOT”
Stating that the Olympiakos team expresses their embarrassment, but sometimes the events go beyond the clubs, the experienced football player said, “They also expressed their embarrassment as much as they could. But of course, sometimes the job exceeds the clubs and the authorities. There is nothing we can do. “We will continue to host you in the best possible way. We have not put anyone’s health into trouble, nor will we. But unfortunately, what happened was regrettable,” he said.
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