UEFA has fined Russian midfielder Dmitry Tarasov 5,000 euros ($5,600) for wearing a shirt bearing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s face at a Europa League game, the Associated Press reports.
The Lokomotiv Moscow player took off his team shirt to reveal the Putin T-shirt while on the field following a 2-0 loss to Turkish club Fenerbahce last month.
Beneath the image of Putin wearing a Russian navy cap were the words in Russian: “The most polite president.”
UEFA said the shirt broke rules on displaying political slogans or advertising on undergarments.
The match took place with tensions running high between the Russian and Turkish governments after Turkish forces shot down a Russian warplane in November, saying it violated Turkish airspace on the border with Syria.
