ANKARA, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Turkey criticized Iceland on Monday over "disrespectful" treatment of its national football team at the capital Reykjavik airport.
Turkey's Foreign Ministry issued a diplomatic note to Iceland via the Norwegian embassy to protest the "disrespectful" and "violent" behaviors against Turkish footballers during the passport control and demanded extra security measures for the players.
Turkey's national football team arrived in Iceland late Sunday for UEFA EURO 2020 qualifications.
The team was kept waiting for around three hours at passport control on Sunday night and their bags were repeatedly searched, reported state-run Anadolu Agency.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in his Twitter the treatment at the Iceland airport was "unacceptable" on diplomatic and humanitarian levels.
Presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin condemned the incident.
Fahrettin Altun, communications director at the Turkish presidency, also said the treatment was "not in line with diplomatic courtesy or sportsmanlike conduct."
Turkey will play Iceland for UEFA EURO 2020 qualifications Group H match on Tuesday.
