CHP sends letter to UEFA over Israeli footballer’s military salute during Besiktas match
Maccabi Tel Aviv's Israeli midfielder #16 Gavriel Kanichowsky (L) celebrates scoring the opening goal 0-1 during the UEFA Europa League 1st round day 5 football match between Besiktas JK and Maccabi Tel Aviv on November 28, 2024 in Debrecen, Hungary. (AFP Photo)
Turkish main opposition party Republican People’s Party (CHP) Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair Ali Mahir Basarir has sent a formal letter to UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, requesting disciplinary action against an Israeli footballer who performed a military salute during the Besiktas–Maccabi Tel Aviv match.
Incident sparks call for disciplinary action
Basarir condemned the salute, calling it an inappropriate gesture in violation of UEFA’s disciplinary regulations.
We are sending our complaints on behalf of the CHP Group, our 86 million citizens, all the people in the world who are against war and the Palestinian people. Let’s see what UEFA will decide.
In my opinion, UEFA should give the heaviest punishment it can give. It should give the heaviest punishment to the Israeli team. Because that footballer has committed a crime on behalf of humanity. We will follow this process with communication.
CHP Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair Ali Mahir Basarir
He noted that the salute occurred after the Israeli player scored a goal during the match, which was held in Hungary due to security concerns raised by the Turkish government.
Letter highlights double standards
The letter reminded UEFA of Articles 11 and 14 of its Disciplinary Regulations, which address acts related to terrorism and crimes against humanity.
Basarir also criticized UEFA for opening a disciplinary investigation on a Turkish player, Merih Demiral, during the 2024 European Championship for a celebratory gesture, arguing that similar action should be taken in this case.
So far, the Football Federation and the Ministry of Sports have not made an application to UEFA regarding that footballer who lost his moral values and tried to justify this war to the world by giving a military salute after scoring a goal. And UEFA did not open an investigation ex officio. In fact, it should have opened an ex officio investigation. It did for our footballer and gave him a penalty.
This action is much more serious, much more criminal, in my opinion a crime against humanity. Because children are dying.
CHP Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair Ali Mahir Basarir
“UEFA launched an investigation on our player, but no action has been taken against this far more serious act. Children are dying in Palestine, and yet this player glorifies such actions with a salute,” Basarir said during a press briefing.
