Even if domestic clubs are forced not to take part in the current season of European competitions, Russia could not have been discussed in the Champions League.
Blame the behavior of Fenerbahce fans, who, during a home match with Dynamo Kyiv, began to chant "La-la-la, Vladimir Putin."
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) reacted to the incident promptly and the next day announced an investigation.
The organization promised to check the behavior of Turkish fans and appointed a responsible inspector for ethics and disciplinary issues.
According to the ex-president of the Russian Football Union and a former member of the executive committees of FIFA and UEFA Vyacheslav Koloskov, the opening of the case indicates that the incident was entered by the delegate of the meeting in the final protocol.
“Then it all depends on what exactly he wrote there: what they shouted, whether it had an exciting effect on the public, whether it had further consequences, how the Ukrainian fans reacted.
This will be discussed at UEFA, ”the functionary explained in a conversation with RT.
At the same time, the chants of Istanbul fans did not arise from scratch, but became a response to provocative actions on the part of the guests.
At the 57th minute, Vitaliy Buyalsky, having opened the score, emotionally celebrated the goal right next to their podium at the Ulker - Sukru Saracoglu stadium.
Local football fans could not bear such a thing.
In addition, two figures in the delegation of guests at once, for obvious reasons, caused a negative reaction among the fans.
The head coach of the blue and white Mircea Lucescu, in addition to the Turkish national team, managed to work with Galatasaray and Besiktas, the principal rivals of Fenerbahce.
Reserve goalkeeper Denis Boyko also played for Besiktas.
Moreover, midfielder Denis Garmash spent half a year in Rizespor, and defender Alexander Karavaev played several matches for Fenerbahce.
It was he who, in extra time, in the 114th minute, scored the winning goal and led the people of Kiev to the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
Celebrating this success, the Dynamo players did not restrain themselves and received another batch of whistles addressed to them.
But Lucescu himself was so disappointed with the behavior of the fans that he even refused to attend the post-match press conference.
“Everything was within our plan, it worked, and we won.
But we did not take into account the fans.
I did not expect such chants.
It’s a pity, ”Fanatik quotes the words of a specialist.
He was also supported by Ukrainian Ambassador to Turkey Vasily Bodnar, who said that the act of local football fans "deeply upset" the representatives of the country.
In turn, Fenerbahce soon issued an official statement condemning the actions of their own fans.
At the same time, the club emphasized that their actions served as a response to a provocation.
“At the 58th minute of yesterday’s match, the excessive movements of some Dynamo players, especially reserve goalkeepers who previously played for teams from our country, caused excitement in part of the stands and a reaction that lasted only 20 seconds in a 120-minute match,” the representatives noted. Istanbulites.
They also condemned the attempts to interfere with Fenerbahce and Turkey in politics and stressed that it should not have anything to do with sports.
“Whatever the reason, we, as Fenerbahce Sports Club, do not agree with the reaction that has arisen in part of our stands.
Attributing this discourse, which absolutely does not reflect the position and values of the club, to all our fans and placing responsibility on the club cannot be called an honest and fair approach.
We condemn attempts to interfere with Fenerbahce and the country, as well as attempts to set an agenda that will entail misunderstanding and politicization, ”the team added.
But the fans of the team did not calm down even after the final whistle and unexpectedly left a large number of comments on posts in Dynamo Moscow social networks with the Russian flag emoji.
They probably just mixed up clubs with the same name.
According to experts interviewed by RT, Fenerbahce fans did nothing wrong.
So, Vyacheslav Koloskov stressed that UEFA still needs to prove that their chant about Putin carried political overtones.
“And if they were chanting “Erdogan” or “Biden”, how should this be regarded?
You can put anything on your ears.
We don't know the details of what happened.
In my opinion, the local football fans did nothing wrong.
Fans - they are the fans and shout what they want.
You can’t swear with obscenities - the rest please.
It can be said that in this way they expressed disagreement with what is happening today in Europe.
Honor and praise to them, ”said the former head of the RFU.
The ex-head coach of the Russian national football team Anatoly Byshovets agreed with him.
In his opinion, in this way, Turkish fans decided to support Russian teams and national teams suspended from all competitions under the auspices of FIFA and UEFA.
“It is clear that sport, like art, literature, and all other areas of life, is currently subject to geopolitical pressure.
And fan movements have always been distinguished by a sensitive reaction to all ongoing processes.
Unfortunately, the most severe reaction should be expected from UEFA, given the sanctions imposed on domestic football without rights.
This decision is not shared by many.
And I don't really understand how people can be punished for their views.
They just need to be shared or not.
Otherwise, we will get another verdict of a political nature, ”the specialist said.