Euro-2020: calls to cancel high voltage match between France and Turkey

It's a salute that does not pass. After scoring a goal on Friday 11 October against Albania in the playoffs for the Euro-2020 football, the players of the national team of Turkey celebrated their achievement with a very military gesture. While their country launched an offensive against Kurdish positions in northeastern Syria, this salute was seen as a support for the military operation decided by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

After the match, a photo was also posted on the official Twitter account of the national team. We can see the players renew their military salute with a message that they "have dedicated their victory to our brave soldiers and our soldiers and fellow martyrs fallen".

The photo published on the official account of the team of Turkey

Ay-Yıldızlılar, galibiyeti kahraman Mehmetçiklerimizle şehit olan askerlerimiz ve vatandaşlarımıza armağan etti. 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/NNZKlnnWga

A few hours before the match between France and Turkey Monday night at the Stade de France, a qualifier for the Euro-2020, some politicians have risen against this celebration and called for a cancellation of the meeting.

"We can not decently welcome tomorrow at the Stade de France those who salute the massacre of our Kurdish allies!", Notably tweeted Sunday evening the president of the UDI Jean-Christophe Lagarde. "With this military salute, the Turkish football team has unfortunately broken the border that must separate sport from politics," added Jean-Christophe Lagarde, who is also chairman of the Kurdish Study Group in the National Assembly. and organizer of a support rally for the Kurds on Tuesday night at the Gymnasium Theater.

The message of Jean-Christophe Lagarde

With this military salute, the Turkish football team has unfortunately broken the border that must separate sport from politics. We can not welcome tomorrow at the Stade de France those who salute the massacre of our Kurdish allies! #AnnulationMatchFranceTurkey pic.twitter.com/tjzRLYZsZL

"Football should not serve Erdogan's propaganda," said Monday's MEP and vice-president of the National Rally (RN) Jordan Bardella, who also wants the match canceled. He judged on Twitter "unthinkable that Turkish players make the military salute on our soil, or that the Marseillaise is still whistled tonight", while Turkish fans had whistled it in June in Konya, Turkey during the match to go.

The previous opposition between the two teams on French soil, ten years ago in Lyon, ended in confusion, interrupted a few minutes after the throwing of projectiles and smoke at the Stade Gerland.

The reaction of Jordan Bardella

Football should not serve Erdogan's propaganda: unthinkable that Turkish players make the military salute on our soil, or that the Marseillaise is still whistled tonight.

The France-Turkey match at the Stade de France must be canceled! #AnnulationMatchFranceTurkey

MP LR Eric Ciotti on his side on Monday called on LCI Interior Minister Christophe Castaner to "take responsibility", calling him to "suspend" this match, "for security reasons, given the tension that exists ", while many Turkish fans are expected at the Stade de France. Beyond the policies, Internet users have also asked for the cancellation of this shock through the #AnnulationMatchFranceTurquie.

"We will not think about that," according to Deschamps

The Minister of Relations with Parliament Marc Fesneau has tried to stop this controversy on Sud Radio by asking that this match be "a sports break", and to "leave the sport safe from international disputes", while that the Turkish Sports Minister and the Turkish ambassador called on Sunday for "friendship", "fraternity" and "courtesy".

Asked about it, the coach of the French team Didier Deschamps also evacuated the question: "The geopolitical problems, they are there.That it has consequences? Obviously, on the environment of the match.But we do not go think of that. " Just like his Turkish counterpart. "I do not want these discussions to take precedence over the match, said Senol Günes on Sunday.We encourage our soldiers, but I am against any kind of violence."

A UEFA review

A UEFA official has in any case said that the European football confederation will "examine" the celebration of the players of the Turkish team. "Personally, I have not seen this gesture, which could be considered a provocation," said Philip Townsend, UEFA press chief, interviewed by the Italian Ansa agency. "Does the regulation prohibit references to politics and religion?" Yes, and I can guarantee you that we will look at this situation, let me check, "he added.

With AFP