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Barcelona player quits Turkey national team after allegedly choking a journalist

Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan has retired from the Turkey national team after reportedly choking a journalist on a team flight.

The 30-year-old is alleged to have had a verbal and physical confrontation with a journalist on a flight following a friendly against Macedonia over reporting that had been done which blamed Turan for creating discord among the squad over bonus money.

According to Reuters, Turan admitted to "making a mistake" and has left his national team.

"I made a mistake while wearing the national team uniform. It was something that should not have happened on the national team plane," he said.