"Sportsmen representing our country abroad are being subjected to a lynching campaign since the start of the operation," Erdogan said at a press conference in Ankara. "We reject UEFA's discriminating, unjust and political attitude towards our national team and clubs," he added.
"It is the natural right of our sportsmen to salute our soldiers after a victory." The players made the military salutes during anthems and after goals against Albania and France last month.
UEFA's press chief Philip Townsend said at the time that the gesture "could be considered a provocation" given the ban on references to politics and religion.