Fenerbahçe Withdraws Players Over Ataman Gesture

Fenerbahçe's basketball team has decided to withdraw its players from international duty in protest against national team coach Ergin Ataman's controversial gesture during a recent match. Ataman, who also coaches Panathinaikos, made a '3-1' sign to reference Galatasaray's victory over Fenerbahçe, leading to outrage among Fenerbahçe supporters. Despite Ataman's apology, Fenerbahçe condemned his actions as disrespectful and indicative of a lack of impartiality required for his role. The club's statement emphasized that they would not send players to the national team as long as Ataman remains in his position, citing violations of dignity and responsibility. This incident has heightened tensions within Turkish sports, highlighting the fierce rivalry between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray. The Turkish national team is set to face Hungary in an upcoming EuroBasket qualifier, but the absence of Fenerbahçe players may impact its performance.