Following protest Israeli team wins ice hockey world cup hosted by Turkey

ISTANBUL

AA Photo

The Israeli ice hockey team took home the winning title in the U-18 World Championship, which was hosted in Turkey’s Kocaeli.

South Africa placed second after losing 3-1 to Israel in the finals while Turkey finished third. An awards ceremony closed out the tournament with Turkey’s Ice Hockey Federation President Orhan Duman attending.

The Israeli team made headlines when Turkish fans attempted to rile them up during their match against Turkey on Feb. 10 in İzmit, which they won by an impressive 6-1.

Tensions flared briefly in the hockey arena during the Turkey-Israel game when a group of spectators sitting amongst the Turkish fans unfurled a banner referencing Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s memorable “one minute” outburst to Israeli President Shimon Peres during the Davos economic Forum of 2000.

The banner and those who hung it were immediately removed from the stadium by security guards.