By Emre Dogan
ISTANBUL (AA) - The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) officially requested Thursday that Gavriel Kanichowsky and his club, Maccabi Tel Aviv, be referred to UEFA for disciplinary review.
The TFF said in a statement to Anadolu that the Israeli player’s military salute to his army during his goal celebration was "political, thoughtless, and intended to convey a message."
The Turkish Football Federation announced it requested UEFA's Control, Ethics, and Disciplinary Board launch an investigation into the incident involving the player and his club.
Maccabi Tel Aviv beat Besiktas 3-1 in a UEFA Europa League match in Hungary last week.
Kanichowsky, 27, scored the opener in the 23rd minute.
In the last few years, the Israeli military has conducted regular raids in the West Bank, which have escalated with the beginning of the onslaught against the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinians have also been violently attacked by illegal Israeli settlers.
At least 805 Palestinians have since been killed and more than 6,450 injured by Israeli army fire in the occupied territory, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.