Turkish authorities on Monday blasted as "unacceptable" the treatment of Turkey's National Football Team at Iceland's airport.
According to Turkish footballers, when the national team arrived at Keflavik Airport Sunday for a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifications match, Icelandic authorities made the team wait around three hours at the passport gate and subjected their personal belongings to an invasive search.
Condemnation of the incident was not long in coming.
"The disrespect shown our national team in Iceland is unacceptable," presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalın wrote on Twitter.
"Our state and people side with our national team. The best response will be given by our national team on the field," he added.
Fahrettin Altun, the presidential communications director, also blasted the ill treatment, writing on Twitter: "The treatment of the Turkish National Football Team at Iceland's Keflavik Airport was not in line with diplomatic courtesy or sportsmanlike conduct. I condemn the authorities and officials who were responsible for what happened."
Turkey's foreign minister also called the incident "unacceptable."
"The treatment of our national team at the Iceland airport was not acceptable in terms of either diplomatic or humanitarian practices," Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted.
"Our nation should not doubt that we will do what is necessary," he added.
'Iceland should apologize'
Ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party spokesman Ömer Çelik also blasted the "disrespectful" treatment of the footballers, saying: "We condemn Icelandic authorities in the strongest way possible. All necessary response will clearly be given to this disrespect, which ill suited the spirit of sports."
Comparing the mistreatment to "violence", Çelik held Icelandic officials responsible, saying they "should apologize for this primitive act and take steps to repair this mistake."
A note sent through Turkey's Embassy in Oslo, Norway also condemned the "disrespectful" and "violent" treatment of Turkish footballers and demanded extra security measures be taken for the players.
Also via the embassy, diplomatic sources told Anadolu Agency that the mistreatment of the Turkish team was "unacceptable" and "rude."
Iceland's actions outraged the Turkish people, and Turkey is now awaiting an explanation, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.
'Turkey will stand by them'
Footballers also slammed the mistreatment.
Burak Yilmaz, a member of the national football team, said: "What they did was disrespectful and rude. We waited there for three hours. They also took everyone's baggage."
"They will explain what is necessary," said Emre Belozoglu, the team captain, complaining of the "over-the-top search."
Separately, while Belozoglu was speaking to reporters, a man held a toilet brush towards his face in place of a microphone in an apparent attempt to provoke him.
Team manager Şenol Güneş is expected to hold a news conference ahead of team training to be held at Laugardalsvollur Stadium later on Monday ahead of Tuesday's Group H qualifying match.
Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoglu, Turkey's Youth and Sports Minister, said he would travel to Iceland to support Turkey in Tuesday's game in the face of Iceland's provocative treatment.
"Our players are not alone. The Republic of Turkey will stand squarely behind them," he stated.
