I wonder how much Erdogan made indirectly from the final. We were talking to a Fenerbache fan on the Sunday, he told us all Erdogan cares about is money and he’s got shit loads of it.
A lot of the younger population and a significant number from the cities have little time for him but his popularity is huge in the more rural areas and within the more conservative population.
Apparently he was skint in 2011 and now has a personal fortune estimated at over $500m, some of his family have also become wealthy in their own right.
It makes me think, whatever UEFA made from this years final Erdogan probably made a chunk of cash from it. Between the Inter and City fans I’d estimate the total spend for the trip was in the region of £100m, then factor in Sponsorships and Corporate another large amount I’m sure. All those services Turkey were paid for and the rip offs, the ambivalence of the police and the lack of organisation, some of the money has gone down a black hole, to where we don’t really know.