Istanbul: Fenerbah§e has plunged into fresh turmoil after a disastrous run of results, capped by a heavy defeat to title rivals Galatasaray on Sunday. The defeat triggered the sacking of the manager and a shock decision by club president Sadettin Saran to call early elections and announce he will not run again.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Saran announced in an address to the community that an extraordinary elective general assembly has been scheduled for June 6-7, adding that he will not be a candidate. "We knew this community no longer needed to wait, but to stand up," he said, noting they had worked day and night toward the championship target but had not reached the desired level.

Saran added that the decision not to postpone the elections was deliberate: "Throughout the season, we postponed some decisions so as not to harm our title challenge. But it is clear that we cannot delay this process any further." He emphasized that the presidency is not a personal power struggle, stating: "The presidency of Fenerbah§e is not a field where every means is permissible in order to win," underlining that the office "requires responsibility" and that "leaving the seat when the time comes is as much a virtue as taking it."

He also called for unity in the club during this difficult period. "Fenerbah§e is not the property of individuals, but the common value of the entire community," he said, warning that internal disputes damage the club. "Fighting for this chair has no benefit to Fenerbah§e. What matters is Fenerbah§e itself." Saran concluded by promising to support the club even after handing over his duties, ending his statement with: "Long live Fenerbah§e."

Saran's decision comes against the backdrop of a brutal week on the pitch. Fenerbah§e was convincingly beaten 3-0 by Galatasaray at RAMS Park Sunday, a result that effectively killed their title hopes and handed their fiercest rivals a near-decisive advantage in the Sper Lig race. Galatasaray's win pushed them seven points clear with three matches remaining, leaving Fenerbah§e needing a miracle to stay in contention. The manner of the defeat, a flat performance in a must-win derby following a season of inconsistency, provoked fury among supporters and intensified pressure on the technical staff.

Within 24 hours, Fenerbah§e's head coach was dismissed, with club insiders and local media linking the sacking directly to the Galatasaray collapse and the broader failure to meet championship expectations. The derby loss crystallized a sense that the project had stalled, despite heavy investment and public promises.