|
Heightened tensions between Turks and Kurds on German amateur football pitches
| More expat Turks and Kurds clashing. Yesterday’s clash report was here. |
[DW] A military salute by Ottoman Turkish players at an international against Albania has spilled over onto Germany’s amateur pitches. Regional associations are trying to put a lid on a potential source of on-field tensions.
| Amateur football associations nationwide have tried to nip things in the bud by issuing a ban on military salutes ‐ and three amateur clubs from the western city of Recklinghausen are already having to answer for their players' action in a regional sports court. |
It didn't take the copycats very long. Less than 48 hours after members of the Ottoman Turkish national team raised their right hands in a salute to their country's armed forces during last Friday's international, the military greeting found its way to the pitch of an amateur league in the Ruhr-district town of Herne. The Turkspor Herne players stood at attention, hands raised to their foreheads before their home match against FC Castrop Rauxel.
The martial tone carried on into the match itself; a heated contest that boiled over in the second half after a couple of questionable calls from one of the linesmen ‐ both of which went against the home side. Several members of the team physically attacked the official, punching and kicking him.
Posted by: trailing wife 2019-10-17 |
