Champions League qualification: Uefa investigates Fenerbahce Istanbul because of "Vladimir Putin" calls

After fans of Fenerbahce Istanbul shouted "Vladimir Putin" during the game against Dynamo Kyiv, the Turkish club is threatened with a penalty by Uefa.

Champions League qualification: Uefa investigates Fenerbahce Istanbul because of "Vladimir Putin" calls

After fans of Fenerbahce Istanbul shouted "Vladimir Putin" during the game against Dynamo Kyiv, the Turkish club is threatened with a penalty by Uefa. The football association said there would be a disciplinary investigation into the "alleged misconduct" of the supporters. Video footage on online networks showed fans of the Istanbul club chanting the name of the Russian president during the match against Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv.

The Ukrainian ambassador to Turkey was "sad" about the "Putin" chants in Istanbul. "It is very sad to hear words of support from Fenerbahce's fans for a Russian murderer and aggressor who is bombing our country," Ambassador Wasyl Bodnar wrote on Twitter.

The chanting appeared to be an attempt by Fenerbahce supporters to tease Dynamo fans after Kyiv's first goal. The Ukrainians won the game 2-1 after the first leg ended 0-0. As a result, Dynamo advance to the third qualifying round while Fenerbahce are eliminated.

Dynamo Kyiv was simply "stronger", Bodnar tweeted. He was "grateful to the friendly Turkish people for their support of Ukraine and for their concerns about the inappropriate behavior of the fans".

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry responded to the calls in a sporting manner. "We advise Turkish fans to be on the winning side," tweeted Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko. Ukraine also defeated Russian President Vladimir Putin with Dynamo's 2-1 win. "We did well in Turkey and we will do the same in Ukraine," said Nikolenko.

Turkey is trying to remain neutral in the conflict despite being a NATO member. Last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met President Putin in Tehran for the first time since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression. Another meeting is scheduled for August 5 in the Russian seaside resort of Sochi.

Sources: DPA, Uefa