Turkey president Recep Erdogan to attend Euro 2024 quarter-final against the Netherlands amid rising tensions with hosts Germany after Merih Demiral’s ‘banned gesture linked to far-right extremist group’
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Turkey’s nationalist president will attend Saturday’s European Championship quarter-finals amid an escalating diplomatic incident between the country and hosts Germany over a team player performing an extremist “wolf salute” during the team’s round of 16 win over Austria.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan has changed his schedule to attend the match against the Netherlands in Berlin, further intensifying the diplomatic confrontation between the two countries after Turkish defender Merih Demiral made a wolf’s head shape with his fingers after scoring in the 1-0 win in Leipzig.
The gesture has been linked to the “Grey Wolves,” an ultra-nationalist youth wing of the Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), an ally of Erdogan’s AK Party.
UEFA immediately launched an investigation into ‘alleged inappropriate behaviour’ by Demiral, and German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser tweeted criticism. She said: ‘The symbols of the far-right in Turkey have no place in our stadiums. Using the Euros as a platform for racism is completely unacceptable. We expect UEFA to consider sanctions.’
Turkey, whose relations with Germany have previously been tested by Erdogan’s nationalist stance toward the country’s large Turkish immigrant population, was furious about Faesar’s remark.
Turkey’s nationalist President Recep Tayip Erdogan has changed his schedule to attend the match against the Netherlands in Berlin
Turkish defender Merih Demiral is being investigated by UEFA and could face a suspension after allegedly making a gesture linked to the far-right group Grey Wolves
It summoned the German ambassador to Turkey on Wednesday to demand an explanation. Berlin responded by summoning the German ambassador to its capital Ankara. Germany and Turkey could still meet in the final of the tournament in Berlin.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has said the German authorities’ treatment of Demiral was “evidence of xenophobia” and that the UEFA investigation was unacceptable.
The party defended Demiral’s gesture as a historical and cultural symbol, saying no one was targeted during his celebration.
The Grey Wolves, formed in the 1960s, were involved in political violence between leftists and nationalists in Turkey, killing 5,000 people around the time of a coup in 1980. The group is banned in France and its symbol is banned in Austria.
Although the wolf salute is not banned in Germany, the group is being monitored, according to the Minister of the Interior.
During a visit to Germany for the 2018 World Cup, Erdogan controversially told the Turkish community in Cologne to stay out of German society and allow their children to attend Turkish-language schools and a Turkish university.
German players Ilkay Gundogan and Mesut Özil were criticised by the German Football Association for having their picture taken with Erdogan during his visit.
Turks are the largest ethnic minority in Germany, but often struggle with acceptance in Cologne
Mesut Özil left the national team in 2018, saying: ‘I’m German when we win, but an immigrant when we lose’
Several Turkish media reports that Erdogan has adjusted his schedule to attend the quarter-final against the Netherlands.
Many of Germany’s seven million Turkish population dream of a final against Germany. ‘I hope Germany and Turkey play in the final and I hope Turkey wins,’ one of the many told Mail Sport last week.