Can and Gündogan like picture of military greeting of Turkish international

The goal for the Turkish national team fell in the 90th minute. It marked on Friday evening the 1-0 winner against Albania in the European Championship qualification. And it was an important hit. Because this puts Turkey in Group H tied with World Cup France in first place. On Monday, both teams meet.

But that goal was also the start of a controversy centering on the Turkish Football Association, the Turkish military offensive in the Kurdish areas of northern Syria and two German internationals: Emre Can and Ilkay Gundogan.

The hit scored attacker Cenk Tosun. After decapitating the ball to victory just before the end, the Turkish side lined up in front of the fan-iconic Fenerbahçe stadium in Istanbul to collectively announce the military salute. Later, Tosun posted a picture of it on Instagram:

Check out this post on Instagram

Ülkemiz için, mehmetçiklerimiz için, şehitlerimiz için ⁣ ⁣ For our nation, especially for the ones who are risking their lives for our nation T ⁣ #TosunPasa

A post shared by Cenk Tosun (@ cenktosun14) on Oct 11, 2019 at 3:06 PDT

That this gesture was meant as a salute to the soldiers deployed in northern Syria, Tosun let his followers know exactly. He wrote under the picture on Instagram: "For our nation, especially those who risk their lives for our country."

The Turkish Football Association also posted a photo - this time from the cabin. Since the whole Turkish team and the coaching staff and the staff had set up after the game for military salute. It was written, "Dedicated to the brave soldiers and martyrs."

Ay-Yıldızlılar, galibiyeti kahraman Mehmetçiklerimizle şehit olan askerlerimiz ve vatandaşlarımıza armağan etti. pic.twitter.com/NNZKlnnWga

The Turkish military has fought since Wednesday against the Kurdish militia YPG, which controls a large area in northern Syria, on the border with Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sees them as terrorists and wants to build a "security zone" in which the fighters have no influence.

But the battles also hit civilians. They have panicked the civilian population - and triggered a mass escape. It is estimated that 100,000 people were displaced from cities in the border area. Therefore, the offensive internationally provides criticism. Norway has suspended arms supplies to Turkey, US politicians are preparing sanctions, France is considering penalties. The Federal Government was also concerned about the start of the attacks: "Such a military intervention would lead to a further escalation in Syria," said deputy government spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer.

"After last year, the last thing I wanted was a political statement"

The case in Germany causes excitement now, because with Can and Gündogan two German national players are associated with it. The Instagram photo with the collective Salute of Tosun likten both professionals. Later they reversed that.

Compared to the SPIEGEL Gündogan now distanced himself: "I took the Like back when I saw that it was politically scored."

Gundogan and Tosun have known each other for years. Tosun was born in Wetzlar, played until 2010 for Eintracht Frankfurt, with Gündogan also in the German U21 selection. Both also lived in Manchester in the same house. Liverpool, where Tosun is currently playing at district club FC Everton, is less than an hour away from Manchester. Most recently he was sitting on the bench at his club. Gündogan has in the past lured almost every post from Tosun. Now this one too. "It is true that I was happy for my former teammate from the U21 selection of the DFB, that he made the winning goal, Believe me: After last year, the last thing I wanted to do is make a political statement. I deliberately withdrew the like. "

Before the 2018 World Cup, a joint photo of Mesut Özil and Gündogan with the Turkish ruler Erdogan caused a scandal, whose political explosive power worked into the tournament. Özil resigned after the World Cup from the German national team, Gündogan declared himself and has since been an important part of the national team. Tosun was also photographed with Erdogan.

The Uefa is considering the case

Even the native Frankfurter and former Liverpool professional Emre Can knows Tosun for a long time. He also likes his Instagram entries regularly. Compared to the "image", Can now said, "I liked the post of Tosun, whom I've known for a long time, while scrolling, without any intention or content." I'm an absolute pacifist and against any kind of war. "

The German Football Association (DFB) is alarmed. After the European Championship qualifier against Estonia in the evening (20.45 / live ticker SPIEGEL, TV: RTL), the DFB wanted to talk to Can and Gündogan about the case according to "Bild".

Meanwhile, the European Football Union Uefa has announced to check the military salute of the Turkish national team. "I have not seen the gesture, which can undoubtedly be interpreted as a provocation," said a Uefa spokesman for the Italian news agency ANSA. "Political statements are banned in the regulations, however, so we will definitely pursue the suspicion."