Last night Galatasaray's home victory over Elazigspor was marred by the fantastic contribute both Ivorian stars Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Eboué showed to former South African president Nelson Mandela who died aged 95 on Thursday night. The message that both players displayed to the iconic leader read "RIP Nelson Mandela" and "Thank You Mabiba" on the under vests of each individual. It has since being stated that the Turkish F.A are looking into taking disciplinary action against both African stars for their appreciation message to Mandela.
Turkish football in general has been tarnished with a racist reputation for numerous decades. The Islamic country believe strongly in the Kor'an and follow the beliefs of Allah and the football is no different. The respect for the Turkish game has been in trouble with many refusing to take interest in events occurring in Turkey because of incidents like this. The gesture made by both players gains the respect and attention it deserves in many western European countries however it is clear that the message was not looked upon with the same eyes as the West by Turkish officials.
Mandela, who spent twenty-seven years in prison for seeking equal rights for the black citizens of South Africa in the 1960s, died after a long term illness on Thursday night. Messages throughout the world, not only in football, poured in for the South African who captured the hearts of the people throughout the world. Growing up in Africa during the struggle for equal rights, surly both Drogba and Eboué would have looked upon Mandela as a hero like many other people throughout the globe.
It would be an incredibly baffling statement from the Turkish FA should they decide to punish both men for their gesture to an iconic figure such as Mandela. When will the surprises in the Turkish league end?
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