Turkey coach slams Euro fan booing of Turan

Nice (France) (AFP) – Turkey coach Fatih Terim had harsh words for Turkish fans who booed star player Arda Turan during his side’s 3-0 defeat by Spain in Nice on Sunday.

“Whatever happens that shouldn’t happen,” he told media at the Stadium Nice after the Group D tie.

“I think the expectations were very high for the team, but nobody deserves that, we need to enjoy being here”.

After Spain scored the last of their three goals in the 48th minute, Turkish fans booed the Barcelona player whenever he received the ball.

“Obviously it made an impact on our team,” Terim said. 

Spain fans chanted Turan’s name in response to the booing and in solidarity with the embattled 29-year-old who has been capped 92 times for Turkey, but has received criticism at home for his performance during Euro 2016.

“Its a difficult situation for a player to experience the whistles of your own fans,” Andres Iniesta, Turan’s Barcelona teammate told reporters. 

“It leaves a bad taste in the mouth for me, and for Arda,” he said. 

“Afterwards I wished him the best for the rest of the tournament as I always want the best for my teammates”.

After an out-of-sorts display in their Group D opener, a 1-0 defeat to Croatia on Sunday, Turan, who was substituted during the game, asked for “forgiveness” on Turkish television.

Turkey had lost just one game in 16 coming into the European Championship but faced a wave of criticism back home after the Croatia loss.

“We have young players doing their best to represent their country, but after losing one game after 15 or 16 wins they shouldn’t have been criticised in such a nasty way,” Turan told media in Nice on Wednesday.

Turkey need to beat the Czech Republic in their final match on Tuesday and hope other results go their way to have any chance of progressing as one of the four best third-placed sides from the six groups.