UEFA fines Turkey, reprimands players for military salutes
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UEFA has fined Turkey’s soccer federation and reprimanded more than 20 players for giving military salutes at matches in October during a Turkish military offensive in Syria Kurdish regions, The Associated Press reported.
The gestures were “inappropriate given the specific political context at the time,” UEFA said on Friday in announcing the rulings of its disciplinary committee.
National team players saluted fans at the European Championship qualifying games against France and Albania.
UEFA said the players used the games for “manifestations of a non-sporting nature” in breach of rules prohibiting political statements in stadiums.
UEFA ordered the Turkish federation to pay a fine of $50,800, which was also related to crowd disturbances in Paris.
The salutes were made in support of Turkish forces involved in the country’s invasion of Kurdish-held regions in northern Syria.
Turkey hosts this season’s Champions League final for UEFA in May in Istanbul.
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