Trabzonspor’s Greek stars Bakasetas and Siopis met with Bartholomew I of Constantinople, who visited Trabzon for the annual mass.

In a photo shared by Bakasetas on his personal social media page, it was seen that the football players presented Trabzonspor jerseys to Bartholomew as gifts.

The nationalist MHP leader Devlet Bahceli took offense and made a statement stated “there is no ecumenical institution in Turkey.”

Bahceli also alleged the meeting was “an insult to our esteemed citizens who love Trabzonspor”.

I hear you asking “How can, a meeting between two Orthodox Christian, Greek footballers and a priest be a problem?”. According to Greek media, “Moscow” may be behind Bahceli’s reaction.

The Russian church disputes the primacy of the ‘First Throne of Orthodoxy’, the Church of Constantinople, with the obvious aim of itself adding that title to the prestige rooted in its numerous Christian flock.