TBF: We condemn the provocative banner targeting the Turkish nation

The written statement issued by the TBF included the following remarks:

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the provocative banner unfurled in the stands during the match played by the Beşiktaş Men's Basketball Team against Panionios Athens in Greece as part of the EuroCup organization, which targets the Turkish nation and the national and spiritual values of our country.

Such actions, which are clearly contrary to the universal values of sports, the spirit of fair play, and the atmosphere of respect that international competitions should uphold, target not only our clubs but also Turkish sports, the reputation of our country, and common human values.

No sports organization can provide a platform for hate speech, discrimination, and insults directed at national values. As the Turkish Basketball Federation, we clearly state that we stand against this unacceptable attitude that undermines the unifying power of sports; we emphasize that this incident must be investigated in all its aspects, those responsible must be identified, and the necessary sanctions must be applied decisively.

On this occasion, we invite EuroCup and EuroLeague, who are responsible for the organization of the match in question, to take responsibility regarding stadium security, organizational standards, and disciplinary practices, and to implement the necessary measures without delay to ensure that similar incidents do not occur again.

The Turkish Basketball Federation will continue to stand against all kinds of discriminatory, provocative, and disrespectful attitudes that Turkish clubs and Turkish sports are subjected to on international platforms, and will continue to follow the process."

News Source: 12punto