Galatasaray’s Drogba and Eboue sent to Discipline Committee over Mandela t-shirts

ISTANBUL

Galatasaray's legendary striker Didier Drogba salutes fans as he wears a jersey in sign of respect for Nelson Mandela after their Turkish Super League match with Elaziğspor in Istanbul, dec. 6. AP photo

Galatasaray’s two Ivorian players, legendary striker Didier Drogba and defender Emmanuel Eboue, have been sent to the Professional Football Discipline Committee (PFDK) for wearing t-shirts commemorating Nelson Mandela during a league game on Dec. 6.
 
Drogba’s t-shirt read “Thank you Madiba” while Eboue’s said “Rest in peace Nelson Mandela,” in respect of the man who changed the course of African history by putting an end to the Apartheid regime in South Africa.
 
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) justified the decision by arguing that the players wore the t-shirts in the match against Elazığspor without receiving permission beforehand. Both players displayed the t-shirts after the conclusion of the game, which the Lions won 2-0.
 
The TFF also recently sent Fethiyespor for disciplinary action, after its players wore t-shirts reading “Great Atatürk” during the national anthem ceremony ahead of its Dec. 4 Turkish Cup game against Fenerbahçe. The TFF said the gesture had brought politics onto the field, but was criticized by Sports Minister Suat Kılıç, who warned the federation against making “divisive decisions.”