(Deutsche Welle) Germany players Ilkay Gündogan and Emre Can have found themselves mixed up in the contentious debate over a military salute celebration performed by Turkish international footballers, after the pair both liked an Instagram post showing the celebrations.
The two German-born players both have Turkish roots and have since taken back their “likes” and denied they were in any way showing support for military action. Can said he was “an absolute pacifist and against any kind of war.”
The salute was believed to have been in support of Ankara’s armed offensive against Kurds in Syria and confirmed in a Twitter post from the Turkish FA.
The FA tweeted a post-match celebration photo of the players saluting once again and dedicating the victory “to our brave soldiers and fellow martyrs.”
