Military salute or a innocent extreme joy?
Turkish football team's military salute to be 'examined' by UEFA. European football's governing body has said it will be looking into the celebration of Friday's victory for Turkey against Albania. Football authorities may take a dim view of the "political gesture."
UEFA said recently it would examine reports that Turkey's national footballers gave a military salute in support of Ankara's armed offensive against Kurds in Syria.
"Personally, I have not seen this gesture, which could be considered a provocation," UEFA's media head Philip Townsend told the Italian news agency Ansa. "Does the regulation prohibit references to politics and religion? Yes, and I can guarantee you that we will look at this situation," he added.
The salute was made after Cenk Tosun's winning goal against Albania in Istanbul on Friday.
After the victory, an additional photo was posted on the Turkish FA's official Twitter account, with the squad posing, saluting the win in the dressing room to "dedicate their victory to our brave soldiers and fellow martyrs."
Turkish players repeated their salute during the Euro 2020 qualifier against France.
French politicians and ministers have called for sanctions against the Turkish national football team after its players repeated a military salute during Monday's Euro 2020 qualifier against France.
Several leading politicians in the country had previously called for the game in Paris to be canceled after Turkey's footballers performed the same gesture during Friday's victory over Albania.
The salute came days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched an incursion into Syria to drive Kurdish forces away from the border, following US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw all remaining American forces out of northern Syria.
After the match, the official Twitter page for the Turkish national team uploaded a table of Group H -- with Turkey still top following the 1-1 draw -- with the players' salute as the background image.
"Thanks to the (French) federation and the police for their work to ensure the smooth running of the game," France's sports minister Roxana Maracineanu said following the game. "The Turkish players spoiled these efforts by doing a military salute, against sportsmanship. I ask UEFA for an exemplary sanction."
