Antetokounmpo and Sengun put an end to their dispute: “Sports unite us,” writes Giannis – “I have great respect for Greeks,” says the Turk

The Greek nationalist hoops team won the bronze medal successful the third-place crippled against Finland. On the different hand, Turkey was defeated successful the last by Germany and took 2nd spot astatine EuroBasket.

The 2 teams had met successful the semifinal, with Ataman’s squad easy beating Greece, led by standout subordinate Alperen Sengun .

After his team’s victory, the Turkish prima made a arguable remark astir Giannis Antetokounmpo, describing him arsenic “not specified a bully passer.”

Sengun’s remark sparked a absorption from some Giannis and Spanoulis, who responded to the Turk during the property league aft the bronze medal game.

Spanoulis called Sengun “a precise tiny child” for speaking astir Giannis, portion the “Greek Freak” told him to spell ticker his highlights connected YouTube.

Two days later, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Alperen Sengun posted a photograph of themselves hugging, with a caption carrying a connection of unity:

“We play for the emotion of our countries. We play for the emotion of the game. We play with respect. We ever retrieve that sports are made to unite us, not disagreement us.”

At the aforesaid time, Giannis besides posted a communicative successful which helium apologized for a remark helium made during his unrecorded watercourse aft winning the medal, erstwhile helium snapped astatine idiosyncratic who was spamming Turkish flags.

“During my live, I made an inappropriate remark successful effect to a remark that was violative toward me. My volition was not to offend anyone successful return. For that reason, I sincerely apologize. I person thing but respect for Turkey and for each radical astir the world.”

Meanwhile, Sengun shared a akin communicative successful which helium apologized to Greeks for the provocative caption helium utilized aft the semifinal, erstwhile helium wrote: “Wouldn’t it beryllium bully upwind for a swim?” – a operation galore interpreted arsenic an allusion to the Asia Minor Catastrophe, with Turkish nationalists mockingly claiming that successful 1922 they “taught the Greeks however to swim.”

“My station aft the semifinal with Greece was a connection mistake. I person large respect for the Greeks. There was ne'er immoderate volition to offend,” wrote the Turkish player.