Russian footballer Dmitri Tarasov reveals Putin shirt in Turkey match

Image copyright AP

Image caption Russia-Turkey ties have been tense since Turkey downed a Russian fighter

A Russian footballer has taunted Turkish fans by pulling off his shirt to reveal a picture of President Putin after a match in Istanbul.

Lokomotiv Moscow midfielder Dmitri Tarasov's vest showed Mr Putin with the words "the most polite president".
The politically-charged Europa League match was the biggest sporting encounter between the nations since Turkey shot down a Russian jet in November.
Turkish side Fenerbahce won 2-0.
Lokomotiv Moscow will now be sanctioned because players are not allowed to show political statements at matches, European football's governing body Uefa said.

    

But Tarasov later defended his behaviour.
"It's my president. I respect him and decided to show that I'm always with him and prepared to give my support," he told Russian news agency R-Sport.
"What was written on that shirt was everything that I wanted to say," he added.
Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak described the gesture as "a Putin provocation".

Image copyright AFP/Getty

Image caption The Turkish side, in yellow, won the match 2-0

Relations have been tense since Turkey downed a Russian fighter that it said was in its airspace.
The incident sparked a continuing war of words between Mr Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the conflict in Syria.
Before the match in Istanbul, bottles were thrown at the Lokomotiv team bus as it made its way to the stadium. Turkish police said they made three arrests.
However, Uefa rejected calls to separate Russian and Turkish clubs in European competitions and will also not separate the two nations in the draw for this summer's European Championship.
credit bbc.co.uk