New Delhi: A seemingly purported tribute to the Russian President Vladimir Putin has landed a Lokomotiv Moscow player in trouble following their Europa League match in Turkey.


COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

Midfielder Dmitri Tarasov removed his team jersey at the end of the game against Fenerbahce in Europe`s second-tier club competition in Istanbul on Tuesday, revealing a picture of Putin and the words: "The most polite president".


However, Tarasov's proclamation didn't go down well with the club, which described the 28-year-old' action as "inexcusable.


After the match, the player reportedly said that "This is my president. I respect him and decided to show that I am ready to support him wherever I am. I wrote on this T-shirt everything that I wanted to say."


In reaction to the player's comments, the club released a statement.


"Unfortunately, the club`s staff were unable to prevent this incident as the footballer had not informed anyone of his plans. What Dmitri did was inappropriate and damages the club`s and his own reputation," the club said.


"Tarasov will be fined in accordance with his contract with Lokomotiv," it added.


In between, the Europe's soccer`s governing body, UEFA has reportedly provisioned to ban Tarasov for a minimum of 10 matches and Lokomotiv also facing sanctions.


Lokomotiv lost the match 2-0 in the first leg of the last-32 tie.


It can be mentioned that UEFA fined Barcelona 30,000 euros after their Champions League final victory over Juventus during which the club`s supporters displayed banners with calls for Catalonia to gain independence from Spain.