There Is Eternal Friendship, Not Eternal Competition Between Izmir Clubs

After two sad events in the derby match played between the two historical clubs of Izmir, Göztepe and Altay, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyerhosted the presidents of the two clubs at the Sovereignty House. Mehmet Sepil, former president of Göztepe, and Ayhan Dündar, President of Altay, attended the summit, Karşıyaka President Turgay Büyükkarcı, İzmir Sports Clubs Association Foundation (İZVAK) Vice President Fatih Taner and İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Youth and Sports Services Department Head Hakan Orhunbilge.

Emphasizing that "There is not eternal rivalry but eternal friendship between Izmir clubs," President Soyer said, "We are all lovers of the colors we love. Two isolated incidents that we have been through, but which need to be learned from, never damage the friendship between Izmir clubs, which has been going on for a century, on the contrary, they strengthen it. We want to meet with the presidents of sports clubs, football players and their families in a big organization in Izmir and reinforce our brotherhood.”

Expressing that the situation in the derby is extremely sad, the President Tunç Soyer“The common sense of the administrators and supporters of both communities will ensure that sports are remembered as gentlemanliness and brotherhood. We will also support this. As the Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality, I am ready to make all kinds of sacrifices and show brotherhood again. In order to erase this incident from our memories, we want to meet with the heads of sports clubs, football players and their families in a big organization and reinforce our brotherhood.”

Club presidents and İZVAK Board members also stated that they, as the football family, are always in favor of friendship and brotherhood.

Izmir clubs will prepare a joint meeting project under the leadership of the Metropolitan Municipality and will implement it by sharing it with their communities in the coming days.