ANKARA/KEFLAVIK, Iceland
Turkish authorities on Monday condemned “unacceptable” treatment of Turkey’s national football team at Iceland’s airport.
Turkey’s national team arrived at Keflavik Airport in Iceland late Sunday for a qualifications match of the UEFA Euro 2020 in Group H to be played on Tuesday.
According to the footballers, Icelandic authorities made the national team wait for around three hours during the passport check station and rigorously searched personal belongings of the footballers.
"Disrespectfulness towards our national team in Iceland is unacceptable and what is necessary will be done,” presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin wrote in a Twitter post.
“Our state and people side with our national team. The best response will be given by our national team at the field,” Kalin said.
Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun also blastied the ill-treatment of Turkish footballers in Iceland.
"The treatment of the Turkish National Football Team at Iceland’s Keflavik Airport was not in line with diplomatic courtesy or sportsmanlike conduct. I condemn the authorities and officials who were responsible for what happened," Fahrettin Altun said on Twitter.
Altun added that Turkey will go on to monitor the situation.
Turkish foreign minister also termed the treatment at the Iceland airport “unacceptable”.
“The treatment towards our national team at the Iceland airport is not acceptable in terms of both diplomatic and humanitarian practices,” Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted.
“Our nation should not doubt that we will do what is necessary,” Cavusoglu added.
Ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party Spokesman Omer Celik also blasted the “disrespectful” treatment of Turkish footballers.
“We condemn Icelandic authorities in the strongest way possible. All necessary response will clearly be given to this disrespectfulness, which did not suit to the spirit of sports,” Celik said.
Terming the behavior as a kind of “violence”, Celik held Icelandic authorities responsible for the ill-treatment.
“Icelandic authorities should apologize for this “primitive” act and should take steps, which will repair this mistake,” he added.
Footballers also slammed the recent treatment.
Burak Yilmaz, one of the footballers, said: “What they’ve done are disrespectful and rude. We’ve been waiting there for three hours. They’ve taken bags of everyone.”
“They will explain what is necessary,” team captain Emre Belozoglu said. “Unfortunately, yes, overmuch search has been made inside since we’ve landed.”
While speaking to media, a man held a toilet brush to Belozoglu in order to provoke him before the match.
The national team, after a long wait, went to the hotel in the Icelandic city of Reykjavik by bus.
Team manager Senol Gunes is expected to hold a news conference ahead of the training to be held at Laugardalsvollur stadium later on Monday.
Meanwhile Turkish Youth and Sports Minister Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoglu said that he will travel to Iceland to support Turkey in Tuesday's Euro 2020 quals game over Iceland's provocative treatment.
"Our players are not alone. As Republic of Turkey, we will stand by them in the strongest way (in Iceland)," he stated.
Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.
