By Mark Baber
August 27 – The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has referred the Batman Petrolspor team to the Professional Football Disciplinary Committee after the club released white doves representing peace prior to their first game of the season.
Before the game in Turkey’s fourth flight, Batman Petrolspor President Aydın Gülmez and his players released white doves symbolising peace. As it was the first game of the season, reports say “the players all shook hands with all the police present as well.” The game was eventually won 4-1 by the home side.
However, the gesture wasn’t appreciated by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) Disciplinary Committee who, based on an observer’s report of the game, have referred the club to the Professional Football Disciplinary Committee and who posted an announcement on the official TFF website that the team acted ‘in violation of the rules.’
There has been extensive violence on Turkey’s borders, especially in Syria and Iraq, and the issue of releasing doves of peace may be sensitive due to the Turkish government’s involvement.
Petrolspor Deputy President İlhan Erken said the club had applied to the federation to release the doves before the game, hoping to draw attention to the recent violence in the area.
“However,” according to İlhan Erken, “”We failed. I don’t know if such a penalty exists anywhere in the world. At first we thought they were joking. We only realised it was real once we got hold of the documentation. We aren’t going to file a defense, because we don’t recognize our action as a crime. We are willing to accept any form of penalty. We’d prefer peace in the country and in the region to any championship.”
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