The controversy over the way the Turkish national team celebrated the equalizer scored against the French world champion in their 1-1 draw in the Euro 2020 qualifiers, where the Turkish players performed the military salute for the second time in a row.

The Reuters news agency that the players' performance of the military salute comes in support of Turkish soldiers fighting in northeastern Syria, which increases the chances of an investigation by UEFA after a similar action three days ago.

UEFA will review reports that Turkish players have performed a military salute in another qualifying match against Albania.

Olivier Giroud's goal gave France the lead in the 75th minute, before Kahn equalized six minutes later. His teammates lined up in front of the audience and greeted.

The controversy over the way of celebration has prompted Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports Mehmet Kassaboglu to urge UEFA to rationalize the possibility of investigating the military salute the Turkish players played in their Euro 2020 qualifier against France.

Katsavoglu questioned the reason for the silence on a similar military salute performed on a previous occasion by French player Antoine Griezmann and only to pay tribute to the players of the Turkish team.

Turkey coach Shinul Gunesh defended the players' behavior, saying that what happened was a kind of appreciation for the armed forces and did not carry any political signal or any kind of provocation.

"Trying to look for malicious intentions behind the military salute is completely wrong. We did it to greet our soldiers, but we are not saying go and kill humans," Junich told a news conference after the match.

The Turkish public also salutes the military in celebration of their team's draw with world champions (Reuters)

French sports daily L'Equipe said UEFA was considering disciplinary measures. But UEFA told Reuters he had not yet received information about the match from the disciplinary committee.

Turkey top Group H with 19 points, ahead of France on goal difference.

UEFA press officer Philippe Townsend was quoted by the Anatolia news agency as saying that UEFA made no comment on the match between Turkey and Albania (the previous match with France), and denied reports that an investigation had been launched into the way the players celebrated.

FIFA rules prohibit any political references in football matches and impose sanctions on parties involved in such incidents.

Meanwhile, German second division club St. Pauli sacked Turkish midfielder Genk Shaheen on Monday because of the player's Instagram application supporting his country's military incursion into northern Syria.

"The club has relieved Genk Shaheen of his training and duties with the team with immediate effect," Saint Pauli said in a statement.