Friendship Cup

On the playing fields of Athens last week, in the Mediterranean Friendship Cup series, the Turkish soccer team beat the Greeks. A Greek fan, Zafiris Tilimachis, 38, climbed to the Acropolis at sundown and jumped to his death from a rock. He left a note saying he could not bear his country's shame.

Then the victorious Turks met the Italians. With five minutes to play and the score tied, Italy's outside right passed to his center forward who passed to the inside left who kicked a goal. The Turks claimed the inside left was offside. The Greek referee failed to allow the Turkish objection and declared Italy the winner.

Turkish players entered the referee's dressing room. One made as if to shake the referee's hand, then socked him. Other Turks tried to beat up Italian players. Still mad, they wrecked their Athens hotel before leaving for Turkey, where the whole Turkish nation got into the fight. The Turkish ambassador called on the Greek foreign minister to protest. There were street demonstrations in Istanbul demanding the return of Cyprus, the Dodecanese and Dedeagach.

One Turkish poster sneered at Turkey's onetime Greek subjects: "You can all throw yourselves from the Acropolis rock, but you cannot beat those who were your masters for over 500 years."

Italy kept the Friendship Cup.

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