BC-SOC--Euro 2024-Germany-Turkey,1st Ld-Writethru
(WorldNews Turkey)

BC-SOC--Euro 2024-Germany-Turkey, 1st Ld-Writethru,992 Erdogan a battleground in Germany-Turkey soccer vote AP Photo ANK124, ANK127 Eds: Removes reference to AP interview on first quote from Servet Yardimci. With AP Photos. Strained diplomatic relations between Germany and Turkey have taken on a sporting dimension as they bid to host soccer`s 2024 European Championship. Concerns about Turkey`s increasingly repressive direction under Recep Tayyip Erdogan`s presidency have been raised by the head of Germany`s soccer federation. Reinhard Grindel criticized Turkey`s authoritarianism after seeing two of his players posing with Erdogan in London. Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan are Germany players...