Turkey Prez accuses UEFA of 'Unjust & Discriminatory' attitude

Almost a month after UEFA announced to probe Turkey football national team's celebration of military salute after scoring a goal in the Euro 2020 qualifiers, President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday alleged that the UEFA was discriminating against Turkey's national team. The President also alleged that the sportsmen of Turkey are being subject to a 'lynching campaign'. The military-salute celebration was first witnessed in Euro 2020 qualifiers match against Albania, earlier on October 15 which Turkey won by 1-0. 

READ | UEFA To Probe Turkey's Military Salute Celebration In Euro Qualifiers

"Natural right of sportsmen to salute soldiers"

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan while briefing the media in Ankara said, "Sportsmen representing our country abroad are being subjected to a lynching campaign since the start of the operation. We reject UEFA's discriminating, unjust and political attitude towards our national team and clubs." President Erdogan added that it is the natural right of sportsmen to salute their soldiers after a victory. 

UEFA to probe Turkey's goal celebration

After Everton star Cenk Tosun scored a goal against Albania, several players celebrated the goal by performing a military-style salute on the field. Later on, the Turkey football team also took to social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram to post a picture of similar salute in the dressing room. The handle captioned the picture as, "We give this win to all our hero soldiers." UEFA spokesman Philip Townsend while speaking to an Italian news agency said that the salute could seem like a provocation and added, "I guarantee that the association will examine this situation." As Turkey faced France on Monday, the Stade de France witnessed high French police security after France's President Emmanuel Macron said that Turkey's military operation against Kurdish forces in Syria could lead to an "unsustainable humanitarian situation" and also threatened to "help the Islamic State group re-emerge in the region". The match that saw Turkey score a late equalizer to hold back France from qualifying also witnessed the same military-style salute celebration after Ayhan headed the equalizer in the 82nd minute of the game. 

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UEFA rules prohibit gestures of political provocation

According to the UEFA disciplinary rules, "The use of gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit a provocative message that is not fit for a sports event, particularly provocative messages that are of a political, ideological, religious or offensive nature is strictly prohibited." On the same day as Turkey drew France, the match between England and Bulgaria was also interrupted twice as the crowd made racial comments on England players. 

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(With inputs from PTI)