Turkey defender Merih Demiral ‘BANNED for two matches’ after making a gesture linked to far-right extremist group… ‘ruling him out of their Euro 2024 quarter-final against the Netherlands’
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- The ‘wolf salute’ is associated with the Grey Wolves and is banned in Austria
Merih Demiral has reportedly been handed a two-match ban, ruling him out of the quarter-finals and potential semi-finals of Euro 2024, for making an extremist “wolf salute” during the win over Austria.
Demiral scored twice in his country’s 2-1 last-16 win on Tuesday, sending them through to a quarter-final against the Netherlands.
But the 26-year-old’s controversial celebration after his second goal led to an investigation by the Football Association over alleged ‘inappropriate behaviour’.
And according to German outlet ImageDemiral is given a heavy punishment for the gesture. They report that the Ah-Ahli defender will be suspended for two matches in the European Championship.
Demiral’s gesture, a “wolf salute,” is associated with the Gray Wolves, a far-right group in Turkey.
Turkish defender Merih Demiral has reportedly been suspended for two matches for his controversial goal celebration
Demiral headed in his second goal from a corner before making the ‘wolf’ gesture
The Grey Wolves, officially called Ulku Ocaklari, are the youth movement of the Nationalist Movement Party, which forms a coalition with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK) of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The nationalist leader will be present at the round of 16 against Ronald Koeman’s team in Berlin on Saturday evening.
Supporters of the group are considered extremists by the German Agency for Constitutional Protection, as well as by the European Union and the United States.
The gesture Demiral is said to have made is banned in France and Austria.
The ban was introduced in Austria in 2019 after a law was passed banning symbols of “extremist organisations”. The gesture can result in fines of up to €4,000 (£3,400).
But in 2019, the Turkish government criticized Austria’s stance, saying the ban equated a symbol of a legal political party with that of the PKK, a Kurdish militant movement considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and the EU.
After the match, Demiral explained why he made this gesture.
“I had a specific celebration in mind, something that was connected to my Turkish identity. I am incredibly proud to be Turkish, and I felt that pride deeply after I scored,” he said.
“I wanted to express that and I’m really happy I did. Our fans are proud of us. I saw them make the gesture in the stands and that made me want to do it even more.”
Nancy Faeser, Germany’s Minister of the Interior and Home Affairs, called for a UEFA ban
The 26-year-old will miss Turkey’s quarter-final against the Netherlands and a possible semi-final
German Interior and Home Affairs Minister Nancy Faeser urged UEFA to consider sanctions and reacted strongly to the alleged gesture.
“The symbols of Turkish far-right extremists do not belong in our stadiums,” Faeser wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday morning. “Using the European Championship as a platform for racism is completely unacceptable.”