Although they hold the title of one of the most successful national volleyball teams in the world, Turkish volleyball players once again found themselves at the center of public outrage - this time not because of their game, but because of the conditions under which they were sent to the FIVB Nations League Finals. Yes, you read that correctly - Turkey's elite national team departed for Poland... ineconomy class. Turkish media are alarming about this this morning.

The footage, taken from the plane itself, literallyexploded on social media - the players, cramped in narrow seats, look more like casual tourists than "Sultans of the Net". And all this - after qualifying for the quarterfinals with 8 wins and 23 points. On July 24, they face a tough match against Japan, but instead of adequate preparation and comfort, they receive... a cheap ticket.

And this is not an isolated case -history repeats itself. On their trip to the USA for the second stage of the tournament earlier this year, the volleyball players were again crammed into economy class, as if they were an amateur team, not a world favorite.

Comments online were quick to follow:

"The #1 team in the world should not fly like a cheap tourist!"
"Where are the sponsors, the federation, the state?"
"Is this how we treat national pride?"

And while the scandal grows,Official institutions are silent.Neither the sports federation nor state bodies have made the slightest attempt to explain why one of the most successful Turkish teams is currently traveling like third-class passengers. Not a word, not an apology.

In an era where athletes become cultural icons and national symbols, neglecting the physical and mental comfort of these women seems not only scandalous, but downrightoffensive. If this is the attitude towards champions, what remains for the rest?

Photos:voleybolaktuel.com