- Title: Fans separate sports and politics at France v Turkey soccer match
- Date: 14th October 2019
- Summary: SAINT DENIS, PARIS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 14, 2019) (REUTERS) TURKEY FAN FROM LYON, ISMAIL UNLI, WEARING TURKEY FOOTBALL SHIRT WITH ERDOGAN'S NAME ON BACK SHIRT / UNLI KISSING TURKISH FLAG ON SHIRT TURKISH FLAG ON SHIRT (SOUNDBITE) (French) TURKEY FAN FROM LYON, ISMAIL UNLI, SAYING: "It's something I like. I could have put my own name, but it's something I like and I wanted it on my shirt. But like I say, sport and politics aren't the same thing and that shouldn't mean a match is cancelled." VARIOUS OF TURKEY FANS DANCING
- Embargoed: 28th October 2019 19:54
- Keywords: France Turkey soccer Euros soccer sport
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE / INTERNET
- City: PARIS, FRANCE / INTERNET
- Country: France
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA003B12MNUV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Fans arriving for a Euro 2020 qualifier between France and Turkey on Monday (October 14) shrugged off calls for the match to be cancelled as the French foreign minister snubbed the game.
Fans partied as normal as they arrived at the Stade de France but the political backdrop is tense in light of Turkey's military offensive in northeastern Syria.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced he would not be attending the game as planned and politicians including the French far left's Jean-Luc Melenchon called for the match to be abandoned.
Fans arriving at the stadium said politics should be kept out of football but some had Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's name printed on their soccer strips.
French officials said they had stepped up security ahead of the game.
France announced on Saturday it was suspending arms sales to Turkey in light of the military offensive.
(Production: Martin Esposito, Johnny Cotton, Louisa Naks) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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