Baghdatis "Racism" Video

[minux]

DEFIANT tennis star Marcos Baghdatis, captured on film chanting offensive slogans on a party video, says he was just sticking up for his country.

Footage of the Greek Cypriot tennis star arm in arm with the alleged ringleader of a confrontation with police at the Open has ignited fury among Melbourne's Turkish Cypriot community, with one leader calling for him to be kicked out of the country.

But Baghdatis today refused to budge.

"There has been a lot of coverage of me appearing in a video on YouTube.com," the tennis sensation said in a statement.

"In that video from 2007 I was supporting the interest of my country, Cyprus, while protesting against a situation that is not recognized by the United Nations.

"Now I would like to concentrate on the tournament and ask everyone to respect that. I love the Australian Open and want to do well here."

"Turks out of Cyprus"

Several clips on video-sharing website YouTube show Baghdatis at a barbecue hosted by the Hellas Fan Club after he was knocked out of last year's Open and reportedly singing "Turks out of Cyprus".

Members of the Hellas Fan Club were at the centre of a capsicum spray row with police at the Open on Tuesday night.

Australian Turkish Cypriot Cultural and Welfare Association president Hakki Suleyman accused Baghdatis of a racist attack and demanded an apology.

Mr Suleyman said his association would write to Tennis Australia, the State Government and other organisations calling for Baghdatis to be expelled from the Australian Open and the country for abusing his position.

"When you become a professional sportsman you have to be careful about what you are saying and it doesn't matter where you are, you are followed and it can be used against you,'' he said.

"One of 30 songs"

But friends of the tennis player, who plays Lleyton Hewitt tomorrow in the tournament's third round, rushed to his defence.

Sources today told Herald Sun Online the video was filmed after Baghdatis was knocked out of last year's Open. It was one of about 30 songs sung on the night, a source from the player's entourage said.

Some of the unruly fans at the Open on Tuesday this week were targeted with capsicum spray and 10 were evicted from the venue.

The clips showed Baghdatis singing with his arm around fan club president Chris Vlahogiannis, who is expected to be charged on summons with assaulting police and resisting arrest.

Turkey invaded and occupied a third of Greek-controlled Cyprus in 1974.

Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria director Bill Papastergiadis denied the chants were racist and that the call for Turks to leave Cyprus was in line with a United Nations resolution.

"It's not exactly expressing a view which doesn't conform with the UN resolution or with the general global view of that incident,'' Mr Papastergiadis said.

And Suat Yilmaz, secretary of the Australian Turkish Cultural Association, believes members of his community will ignore Baghdatis' behaviour.

"I don't think there will be a bad reaction form our community - people will ignore him,'' Mr Yilmaz said.

"`But in any community there are stupid people. Baghdatis should not mix sport with politics.''

Mr Yilmaz said he he has seen Turkish fans with aCyprus background at the tennis supporting Baghdatis.

"That's normal - he is a young man from the Mediterranean and we support them.''

Tennis officials are meeting to decide how to respond to the matter, and the Association of Tennis Professionals is meeting Baghdatis' management to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, a cousin of Baghdatis whose VIP pass was stripped for unruly behaviour was last night back at Rod Laver Arena to watch the superstar.

The Australian Open star's relative was kicked out of the stadium on Tuesday night over an incident just before the ugly capsicum spray fracas.

He was ejected after being accused of pouring a beer over an officer's head, minutes before police started spraying.

But Baghdatis was able to broker a deal for his cousin to attend last night's centre court clash.

He is not one of the three men facing criminal charges or among those banned from Melbourne Park. However, Tennis Australia was so concerned about his behaviour on Tuesday night that it wanted to limit his access.

I fail to see how this is being deemed racist?

If people invaded Australia i would protest against the military also.

The world has gone ****ing mad. Turks should be removed from this island.

[VLDavo]

pff must be a slow news week .... whatever happened to unity between country men.and standing up for there country they love..

people need to harden the fock up instead of having all these litttle pussies who get there panties in a bunch when some words are said....

[Marco-EFIVL]

Beh... I can't say I have much time for the Turks at all...
Before anyone bleeding heart labels me a racist.. I ask you to search the following..


Constantinople 1453.
Pontic Genocide.
Hellenic Genocide.
Armenian Genocide.
Smyrna 1923.
Turkish Invasion of Cyprus.


Systematic bloodshed, barbaric slaughter and little else... Who do you think Adolf Hitler modeled his 'final solution' from??? Any takers??

I am 110% proud that Baghdatis is not backing down, enough of the appeasing 'do gooders' that want world peace, can't offend anyone and think that we must all hold hands bullshize... Damn hippies...

[Spaced]

Doesn't matter now if he's been beaten?

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

A Cyprian telling Turks he wants them off his island while in Australia....about as effective as me throwing rocks at the Yushin Maru No2 from the beach near my house. I don't see any of these high profile people actually protesting on the front line.

[jas98]

ahhhhhh theres that bloody bug again : lol

[Marco-EFIVL]

A Cyprian telling Turks he wants them off his island while in Australia....about as effective as me throwing rocks at the Yushin Maru No2 from the beach near my house. I don't see any of these high profile people actually protesting on the front line.

True, but I bet most of them are too PC to announce their 'alignment' publicly, and if they did many would buckle and renouce thier opinions under media pressure... To consider that he did voice his opinion, and that he has not faultered... I find that rather admirable...

[vlv8vic]

load of crap. no reason for anyone to be upset. Like the commentary suggesting williams' posterior was fine.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

True, but I bet most of them are too PC to announce their 'alignment' publicly, and if they did many would buckle and renouce thier opinions under media pressure... To consider that he did voice his opinion, and that he has not faultered... I find that rather admirable...

He is in a country that was fighting the Turks in WW1, how is that admirable? It's more a publicity thing than him voicing his opinion with any risk to himself. Get knocked out in the second round, ummmm....how am I going to get some attention? Start protesting against the Turks in Cyprus-while in Australia.