Footballer arrested just moments after match ends for wearing pro-Israel wristband

Footballer arrested just moments after match ends for wearing pro-Israel wristband

WATCH NOW: Footballer leaves court after wearing pro-Israel wristband

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 15/01/2024

- 11:11

Updated: 15/01/2024

- 11:38

He has since been released but is expected to face trial at a later date

A footballer in Turkey was arrested just moments after the end of a match for wearing a pro-Israel wristband.

Sagiv Jehezkel was detained by the authorities and suspended by his club, Antalyaspor, after paying tribute to the victims of the October 7 terror attack by Hamas.


Antalyaspor and Trabzonspor drew 1-1 on Sunday night.

And Jehezkel, during the fixture, pointed to strapping on his wrist imprinted with a Star of David.

Sagiv Jehezkel

Sagiv Jehezkel was arrested for wearing a pro-Israel wristband on Sunday night

GETTY

It also had '100 days' and '7.10' written on it, with the 28-year-old netting his side's equaliser to earn them a point.

However, Turkish prosecutors then responded by opening an investigation into the winger.

He was accused of 'publicly inciting public hatred and hostility due to his ugly action supporting the massacre committed by Israel in Gaza'.

After being detained, Israel defence minister Yoav Gallant accused Turkey of acting as the 'executive arm' of Hamas.

And foreign minister Israel Katz vented his fury, too.

Kataz said: “Anyone who arrests a soccer player over an act of identification with 136 hostages who have been held for over 100 days in the hands of a murderous terror organisation represents a culture of murder and hatred."

Antalyaspor suspended their player and said he had acted 'against the national values of our country.'

There has even been talk of the club terminating Jehezkel's contract, too.

Caglayan Group, Antalyaspor's main shirt sponsor, said they would withdraw their sponsorship if Jehezkel's deal was not ripped up.

He is currently contracted to the club until 2026.

The 28-year-old is now due to return to Israel on Monday after being released from detention.

Local media, per the Financial Times, say he's likely to face a trial in Turkey at a later date.

Jehezkel has defended his actions, insisting he is not 'a pro-war person'.

“I did not do anything to provoke or provoke anyone," he said.

"I am not a pro-war person.

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Israel Hamas

The war in the Middle East remains ongoing with Israel bombarding the Gaza strip following Hamas attacks

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“The point I wanted to draw attention to was the end of the war.”

As of January 11, over 24,000 people have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war.

There are still 132 hostages being held by Hamas, who killed 364 people during the initial attack in October.

There have been 23,469 Palestinian casualties, with 1,200 Israelis dying in the conflict.

Israel have constantly bombarded the Gaza Strip since the initial attacks and there are believed to be thousands of people whose whereabouts remain unaccounted for.

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