Fenerbahce Boycotts National Team: “No Players as Long as Ataman is Coach”
Fenerbahce has announced that it will no longer send players to the Turkish national basketball team as long as Ergin Ataman remains the head coach
Fenerbahce has announced that it will no longer send players to the Turkish national basketball team as long as Ergin Ataman remains the head coach.
The decision follows a gesture made by Ataman, currently the coach of Panathinaikos, after the game against Galatasaray, where he flashed the “3-1” sign with his hands, referencing Galatasaray’s recent football victory over Fenerbahce in the Turkish Super Cup.
This action outraged Fenerbahce fans. Despite Ataman’s official apology, the club deemed the gesture unacceptable.
In an official statement, Fenerbahce said: “This action is a great disrespect to our community, to the dignity the National Team Coach carries, and even to our country, all to curry favor with a certain part of the audience.” The club declared it will not send its players to the national team as long as Ataman remains in charge.