TURKISH players defied Uefa with another military salute in Turkey’s 1-1 draw with France in their European Championship qualifier on Monday.

Uefa was already looking into Turkish players’ salutes from during and after Friday’s 1-0 win over Albania. The European football federation prohibits political statements in stadiums.

But Turkish players lined up again to show a military salute after Kaan Ayhan’s late equaliser in Paris. Captain Burak Yilmaz was joined by goalkeeper Mert Gunok and several other outfield players in giving the salute toward the crowd in apparent support of the country’s invasion of Kurdish-held regions in northern Syria.

Defender Merih Demiral urged Ayhan to salute, too, leading to what looked like a heated discussion between the two, but the goal-scorer desisted and made his way back to the pitch.

Ayhan and Turkey striker Kenan Karaman both play for German side Fortuna Dusseldorf, which had issued a statement after Friday’s game to distance itself from “politically motivated acts.”

“Both players stand for values that the club lives by,” Dusseldorf sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel said. 

Everton striker Cenk Tosun was another player who made the salute during Friday’s Albania game, after the match posting on Instagram an image of himself with the message: “For our nation, especially for the ones who are risking their lives for our nation.” 

Leicester City defender Caglar Soyuncu, who played for Turkey in both games, showed his support for Tosun’s message, replying with heart emojis and the Turkish flag.

This post was also liked by Germany internationals Ilkay Gundogan and Emre Can, who both have Turkish heritage, prompting German Football Association director Oliver Bierhoff to say the pair had “made a mistake.”

Gundogan and Can would later remove their likes with the former saying there was “no political motivation behind it” and Can stressing “I am absolutely a pacifist and against all forms of war.”

German club St Pauli took more dramatic action on Monday night by releasing one of their players, Cenk Sahin, after the midfielder posted his own message of support for the Turkish incursion.

“We are on the side of our heroic military and armies. Our prayers are with you!” Sahin posted on Instagram, leading St Pauli to announce: “Sahin has been released from his training and playing duties with immediate effect. The prime factors in reaching the decisions were his repeated disregard for the club’s values and the need to protect the player.”