Greece-Turkey diplomatic spat over COVID-19 testing of Turkish soccer team

·

Turkish authorities have erupted in a furor after the country’s soccer team Galatasary was asked to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival in Athens on Monday. 

Greek authorities allege the players and coach Fatih Terim refused to follow random testing procedures which require all overseas visitors to re-test for COVID-19 regardless of any prior negative test result. 

“No exceptions can be made to safety rules. The application of those procedures must be absolute,” deputy minister for Civil Protection, Nikos Hardalias, said in a statement. 

“Given their refusal to comply with those rules, they were refused entry into the country on my orders.”

The scheduled match between the Olympiakos and Galatasary soccer teams was canceled after the Galatasary team was denied entry and sent back to Istanbul. 

Greek Ambassador Michael-Christos Diamessis was reportedly scolded by the Turkish Foreign Ministry over the ‘illegal’ and ‘discriminatory’ request, according to state-run Turkish news outlet Anadolu Agency. 

“The fact that Greece welcomes one of our country’s leading teams with such behaviour shows its intolerance towards our country, even in the field of sports,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Turkish Football Federation said the players had been treated in an “unacceptable” way. 

“We condemn the attitude adopted by the Greek authorities. Their behaviour was not in a sporting spirit. We stand by Galatasaray sports club,” the federation said.

Tensions between Greece and Turkey are currently high over maritime boundaries and the respective rights of ethnic and religious minorities in each country. 

Source: AP

Cretan Convention - Web Banner

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Campaigners celebrate as Milos luxury hotel project is halted

Environmental activists have welcomed the suspension of a controversial five-star hotel project on Milos’s world-famous “moon beach”.

Historic first: Greek chess player defeats reigning world champion

For the first time since the official establishment of the chess world championship, a Greek player has beaten the sitting world champion.

Portarlington to host first-ever Greek Festival this November

Portarlington will burst with energy on November 2 when the Bellarine town hosts its inaugural Greek Festival.

Historic Greek school faces closure after 571 years with no new enrolments

For the first time in its history, not a single student enrolled in the 1st Grade of the Secondary School.

First artefacts recovered from Titanic’s sister ship off Greek island

Deep-sea divers have recovered the first set of artifacts from the wreck of the Titanic’s sister ship, the HMHS Britannic.

You May Also Like

Postal vote the focus of meeting between Greek and Australian officials

Greece’s Minister of Interior, Niki Kerameus, and the Ambassador of Australia in Greece, Alison Duncan, met on Tuesday.

Business leader Paul Nicolaou calls for reinstatement of dining vouchers in NSW

Paul Nicolaou has called for the NSW government to reinstate dining vouchers to support struggling cafes and restaurants.

Greek community petitions to keep Father Leslie at St Gerasimos church in Leichhardt

Parishioners at St Gerasimos in Leichhardt launched a petition calling on the committee "to reconsider their decision to move" Father Leslie.