DIDIER Drogba and Emmanuel Eboue
face fines from the Turkish FA after displaying vests bearing tributes to
Nelson Mandela.
The two Ivory Coast
internationals unveiled their personal messages after Galatasaray’s game
against Elazigspor on Friday, their first game after the death of South African
icon Mandela.
Chelsea legend Drogba peeled off
his shirt at the 2-0 win to reveal a tribute which said: ‘Thank you Madiba’ and
former Arsenal defender Eboue’s vest said: ‘Rest in Peace Nelson Mandela’.
The Turkish FA (TFF) are
planning to summon the Galatasaray pair to appear before the Professional
Football Discipline Committee because they had not sought prior permission to
display their messages.
It is in contrast to England
where games this weekend have been preceded by a minute of applause in
celebration of Mandela’s life and his role in ending apartheid in South Africa
and transforming the international profile of Africa.
Plans to discipline Drogba and
Eboue are certain to attract criticism and fuel debate in Turkey, where the TFF
are trying to keep political imagery out of football as directed by FIFA,
although it has proved increasingly difficult in a football-crazy nation beset by
political tension.
Vanguard
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