Dmitri Tarazov plays for Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow. Lokomotiv Moskow lost 2-0 to Turkish club Fenerbahce in Istanbul in the Europe League. After the match, Tarasov peeled off his jersey to reveal a t-shirt celebrating Russian president Vladimir Putin. This was a fairly inappropriate thing to do.
If you're not sure why a player wearing a shirt celebrating his country's president is inappropriate, here's a quick primer, via the BBC (from November):
Turkish warplanes have shot down a Russian military aircraft on the border with Syria.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Su-24 was hit by air-to-air missiles fired by Turkish F-16s while it was flying over Syrian territory.
But Turkish military officials said the plane was engaged after being warned that it was violating Turkish airspace.
Mr Putin described the incident as a "stab in the back" committed by "accomplices of terrorists".
Tarasov's Putin shirt referred to the Russian president as the "most polite President." We have no idea if this is true, as we have never met Vladimir Putin, and therefore cannot say whether he is polite. The politeness is likely in reference to Russian unmarked troops in Crimea, who were referred to as "polite people."
The shirt has reportedly landed Tarasiv in hot water with UEFA. From the Associated Press:
UEFA rules prohibit political statements at its matches and the laws of football ban players from revealing images and slogans on underclothing.
Tarasov will likely face some kind of discipline, perhaps a fine. If that's the case, if Putin was really polite he would pay Tarasov's fine for him.
(H/T Deadspin)
