European football’s governing body says it will probe Turkish team Fenerbahce, after its fans chanted pro-Putin slogans when their Ukrainian opponents scored a decisive goal.
Supporters of Fenerbahce SK cheer ahead of the UEFA Champions League qualifier first leg match between Dynamo Kyiv and Fenerbahce SK in Lodz, Poland, July 20, 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE/Grzegorz Michalowski POLAND OUT
The Union of European Football Associations, UEFA, announced on Thursday that it has started an investigation into Turkish team Fenerbahce after its fans chanted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s name in a match with Ukraine’s Dynamo Kyiv, after the Ukrainian team scored a goal.
Fenerbahce’s hopes of competing in Europe’s Champions League soccer competition this season were ended by the 2-1 loss to Kyiv in the second qualifying round tie in Istanbul on Wednesday.
“The Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector will conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding alleged misbehaviour of Fenerbahce supporters [at the match],” UEFA said on Thursday.
Fenerbahce insisted that the chanting did not represent the team and accused the Ukrainian players of provocations.
“The exaggerated behaviour of some players on the rival team stirred up [the chants]. This resulted in a 20-second reaction in a game that lasted 120 minutes,” Fenerbahce said.
The chants occurred after Dynamo Kyiv midfielder Vitaliy Buyalskyi celebrated giving his side the lead with a goal by making an eagle gesture with his hands in front of Fenerbahce fans.
Fenerbahçe taraftarı, Dinamo Kievli futbolcunun attığı golden sonra abartılı şekilde sevinmesi üzerine “Vladimir Putin” tezahüratı yaptı pic.twitter.com/sTjhNM0n2R
— Batu Bozkürk (@batubozkurk) July 27, 2022
The fans’ Putin chants went viral globally, and many condemned the team and the fans. Ukrainians in Turkey also organised a protest on Thursday.
“We request Fenerbahce to find those responsible. They are fanatics and they must be condemned and banned from entering the stadium,” the protesters said in a press statement.
Vasyl Bodnar, Ukraine’s ambassador to Ankara, said on Twitter that he was saddened by the chants, but thanked those who stood up against the “inappropriate actions” of the fans. “Football is a fair game. Dynamo Kyiv was stronger yesterday,” he wrote on Twitter.
Turkey maintains ties with both Ukraine and Russia refusing to abandon its relations with either country and hosting several diplomatic talks between the two sidesm, at war since February. However, Ankara has condemned the Russian Invasion and has sent military support to Kyiv including armed drones.
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