Turkey defender Merih Demiral has been handed a two-game suspension by UEFA after appearing to make an ultranationalist salute while celebrating his second goal against Austria in Tuesday’s European Championship last-16 match.
The 26-year-old celebrated his second goal in the game by making the “wolf salute” — a gesture associated with the far-right extremist group Grey Wolves, who are linked to the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Turkey’s ruling coalition party.
The UEFA appeals body issued the ban to Demiral for “failing to comply with the general principles of conduct, violating the basic rules of decent conduct, using sports events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and bringing the sport of football into disrepute”.
The central defender will be suspended for the next two UEFA competition matches for which he would have been eligible, meaning he will miss Turkey’s quarter-final tie against the Netherlands on Saturday and, should Turkey progress, the semi-final stage of Euro 2024.
Demiral scored twice as Turkey beat Austria 2-1, opening the scoring in the first minute before doubling their advantage in the 59th minute.
The gesture, made after the second goal, is not illegal in Germany but it is in Austria, where it is punishable with a fine of up to €4,000 (£3,400; $4,300). The Turkish nationalist hand signal is also banned in France.
UEFA confirmed on Wednesday it had opened an investigation into the incident. This was welcomed by German interior minister Nancy Faeser.
“The symbols of Turkey’s far-right extremists do not belong in our stadiums,” Faeser said. “The Euros should not be used to promote racism. We expected UEFA to investigate and consider sanctions.”
Speaking after the match, Demiral said: “I had a goal celebration in mind, which I did. I am very proud because I am a Turk, therefore after the goal I felt it deeply, and I wanted to do it, and I am very happy about doing it.”
🇹🇷 Ne mutlu Türküm diyene! pic.twitter.com/4K3kVPFxgW
— Merih Demiral (@Merihdemiral) July 2, 2024
Demiral then posted a photo of his goal celebration with the salute, alongside the caption: “How happy is the one who says I am a Turk.”
The Grey Wolves are known for attacking minorities in Turkey, including Kurds and Armenians. In 2021, the European Parliament said the group should be labelled as terrorists as they are “especially threatening for people with a Kurdish, Armenian, or Greek background and anyone they consider an opponent.”
Demiral, who plays his club football for Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli, has been capped 48 times by Turkey since his debut in 2018.
He has featured in all four of Turkey’s Euro 2024 fixtures, being utilised as a substitute in their opening two group fixtures and playing the full 90 minutes in their most recent two matches, the group stage win over Czech Republic and the last-16 victory over Austria.
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(Hendrik Schmidt/picture alliance via Getty Images)
