France-Turkey: French minister of sports asks UEFA to sanction the Turkish team's military salute

"Thank you to the FFF and the police for their work in ensuring that the match ran smoothly (France-Turkey, 1-1). The Turkish players ruined these efforts by making a military salute, contrary to sportsmanship. I am asking UEFA for an exemplary sanction," wrote Roxana Maracineanu, the French minister of sports, on Twitter on 15/10/2019, the day after the match she attended at the Stade de France in Paris (FRA).

After their equaliser at 1-1 (81^st minute), and then again at the end of the Euro 2020 qualifying match (Group H), the Turkish internationals made a very symbolic military salute, at a time when the Turkish army is engaged in an offensive in Syria against Kurdish forces.

The Turkish players had already made the same controversial gesture three days earlier, after scoring against Albania (1-0) in Istanbul (TUR) on 11/10/2019.

"Personally, I have not seen this gesture, which could be considered a provocation. Does the regulation prohibit references to politics and religion? Yes, and I can guarantee you that we will look at this situation," said Philip Townsend, chief…