Necati Ateş, a former Galatasaray midfielder, publicly condemned what he called disrespect toward the club’s president in early July 2026.
Speaking on a televised program and in videos shared by Turkish sports outlets, Ateş said there must be a reaction to this level of disrespect toward the Galatasaray president, adding that anyone reacting so strongly is not a true Galatasaray fan.
The remarks were made against a red studio backdrop featuring Galatasaray colors, with Ateş holding a clipboard and addressing viewers directly.
The comments emerged amid ongoing debate in Turkish football about criticism of club leadership. In recent weeks, videos showed Ateş accusing commentator Şahan Gökbakar of speaking improperly about the Galatasaray presidency. Ateş argued that the presidency is a sacred institution for the club and that critics should either join the congress and election process or stop speaking without merit.
Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek has previously addressed fan reactions after matches, including condemning disrespectful social media posts following the Super Cup defeat in January 2026.