Israeli football player Sagiv Jehezkel is facing deportation from Turkey following a controversial goal celebration. Jehezkel, a member of Antalyaspor, was arrested after displaying a message during a Turkish league match that sparked significant public outcry.
Israeli player Sagiv Jehezkel was arrested after the Antalyaspor match for displaying the message that read "100 days - 10/07"-Source: X
During a game against Trabzonspor, Jehezkel celebrated a goal by drawing attention to a bandage on his wrist, bearing the date of a Hamas attack and the Star of David, accompanied by the phrase “The 100th Day”. This gesture, interpreted as a show of solidarity with hostages in Gaza, was received with considerable anger in Turkish circles.
🚨🚨| NEWS: Israeli player Sagiv Jehezkel was arrested after the Antalyaspor match for displaying the message that read “100 days – 10/07” remembering the Israeli hostages held for 100 days by Hamas in Gaza.
[@Marca] pic.twitter.com/Devp4BkYwg
— TTS. (@TransferSector) January 15, 2024
The Turkish authorities released Jehezkel on Monday but later decided on his deportation. This decision followed a statement by Antalyaspor’s president, Sinan Boztepe, who condemned Jehezkel’s actions as inappropriate and expressed deep regret over the incident. Boztepe emphasized that such behavior is not tolerated under his management, regardless of the team’s success.
📌 Kamuoyuna Duyurulur!
Bugün oynadığımız Trabzonspor karşılaşmasında, Sagiv Jehezkel’in, Antalya’mın, Antalyaspor’umuzun ve ülkemizin hassasiyetlerine aykırı bir davranış içinde bulunduğunu üzüntü ve şaşkınlık ile takip ettim.
Kulübümüz resmi sosyal medya hesaplarında gol… pic.twitter.com/1jxA2dcKP0
— Bitexen Antalyaspor (@Antalyaspor) January 14, 2024
Additionally, Antalyaspor moved quickly to delete social media posts featuring Jehezkel and is proceeding with the termination of his contract. As reported by Israeli Channel 12, this termination could result in a payout exceeding one million dollars to Jehezkel as a penalty clause.
This case has also drawn political attention. Israeli Minister Galant accused Ankara of hypocrisy and ingratitude, reminding Turkey of Israel’s swift aid following last year’s catastrophic earthquake. Galant criticized Turkey’s treatment of Yehezkel as hypocritical and ungrateful, highlighting Israel’s prompt response in providing life-saving assistance to Turkish citizens during the earthquake.
כאשר רעדה האדמה בטורקיה לפני פחות משנה, הייתה ישראל המדינה הראשונה להתייצב ולהושיט סיוע שהציל את חייהם של רבים מאזרחי טורקיה.
מעצרו השערורייתי של הכדורגלן שגיב יחזקאל הוא ביטוי לצביעות ולכפיות טובה. במעשיה, טורקיה משמשת כזרוע הביצועית של החמאס.
— יואב גלנט – Yoav Gallant (@yoavgallant) January 15, 2024
In conjunction with these events, Basaksehir Club, one of the Premier League teams in Turkey, announced on Monday the opening of an investigation into the Israeli football player, Eden Karzev, who reused a post containing the phrase “100 days” on his social media accounts.
Karzev had published a picture with a black background with the number “100” written in white and yellow, and underneath the phrase “Send them back to the homeland now,” in reference to the passage of more than 3 months since the kidnapping of about 250 hostages, in the attacks launched by Hamas on Israel on the 7th. From October.
Bu da Başakşehir’in İsrailli futbolcusu Eden Karzev;
İsrail’in Gazze’de yaptığı soykırımın 100.günü için bu paylaşımı yapmış.
Bir Siyonist gittiği her yerde Siyonisttir! pic.twitter.com/zm2hV8m6yb
— Mehmet Ali ÖNEL (@Mehmetali_Onel) January 14, 2024
The incident and subsequent actions by Turkish authorities continue to stir debate and highlight the complexities of sports intersecting with political and international relations.
