Russian footballer in trouble after revealing pro-Putin shirt in a match in Turkey

Lokomotiv Moscow, the Russian football team, is heading for some difficulty from Europe’s football governing body after one of their footballers players pulled off his jersey t-shirt to show a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin along with a slogan endorsing him.

This incident took place on the field following a game in Istanbul against Turkey club Fenerbahce earlier on Tuesday. Beneath the Putin portrait, who is sporting a Russian navy cap in the shot, Dimitri Tarasov’s vest ‘said’ “The most polite president” in Russian language.

Lokomotiv Moscow is almost certain to confront some disciplinary action from the UEFA as political statements are not allowed at their matches.

In another incident related to the match, the Istanbul police detained 3 people after bottles were thrown off at a bus carrying the Russian squad’s rooters when it headed for Europa League game in the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium. Later, the police reported that the people were drunk and one of the bus’s window was a bit cracked. The Turkish media reportedly stated that those who were responsible for the incident were Fenerbahce fans.

The political relations between Russia and Turkey have been very tensed since November. That time, Turkey shot down a Russian military jet which crossed their border near Syria.

Later, Lokomotiv Moscow player Tarasov defended his behavior stating that Putin is their president and he respects him and he decided to show that he is always with him and prepared to give his support. Everything he wanted to say was actually written on the shirt.