Turkey's basketball coach sparks fury over football rivalry

Turkish hoops squad Fenerbahce are refusing to let their players to study for work pinch their state aft nationalist squad caput coach Ergin Ataman showed support for their bitter footballing rivals Galatasaray.

The 58-year-old has been successful complaint of Turkey since 2022 and besides took nan reins astatine Greek nine Panathinaikos successful 2023.

But during a friends hoops lucifer connected Tuesday betwixt Panathinaikos and Galatasaray, Ataman - who follows Galatasaray's shot squad - sparked outrage by making a nationalist gesture.

He raised 1 digit followed by 3 fingers - referencing Saturday's people erstwhile Galatasaray won 3-1 astatine Fenerbahce successful nan Turkish Super Lig.

Ataman, who led Panathinaikos to nan EuroLeague title successful 2023-24, has since apologised for his "unplanned" ceremony and said he "definitely did not intend to target aliases offend immoderate community".

"I americium a coach who expresses my respect for nan Fenerbahce organization astatine each opportunity, but underlines that I americium 1 of their biggest rivals connected nan field," he added.

"I americium alert of nan discomfort my actions yesterday caused successful nan Fenerbahce community. I would besides for illustration to definitive my sincere sadness for nan cognition that was created successful a measurement that I did not want."

In their consequence Fenerbahce said they will not let immoderate of their players to play for nan nationalist squad arsenic agelong arsenic Ataman remains successful his post.

"What he did successful beforehand of millions of viewers stands successful complete guidance to nan dignity and personality of nan nationalist squad caput coach position," nan nine added successful a statement.

"The nationalist squad belongs to each of us. Every individual who is portion of this squad must enactment pinch this consciousness and responsibility.

"This behaviour, carried retired successful an effort to appease 1 community, is simply a awesome disrespect to our ain community, to nan dignity of nan nationalist squad caput coach position, and moreover to our country."

Turkey are owed to play Hungary successful a EuroBasket qualifiers connected 22 and 25 November.