After his controversial “wolf salute” gesture in the round of 16 against Austria, UEFA has banned Turkish national player Merih Demiral for two matches. The association announced this based on a decision by the disciplinary body. According to the decision, the player was banned based on the regulations for “inappropriate behavior”.
Demiral had “not complied with the general principles of conduct, violated the basic rules of good behavior, used sporting events for rallies of a non-sporting nature and brought football into disrepute,” the European Football Union explained its decision.
The Turkish international will therefore not be able to play in the quarter-finals of the European Football Championship against the Netherlands on Saturday. Demiral may also not be allowed to play in a possible semi-final if Turkey advances.
The 26-year-old central defender celebrated one of his two goals in Turkey’s 2-1 victory in the round of 16 with a controversial hand gesture that is attributed to sympathizers of the far-right Turkish Ülkücü movement. The movement, also known in German as the “Grey Wolves,” is monitored by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in this country.
The player himself has not yet commented on the matter. His wife, Heidi Demiral, told the Swiss newspaper Blick said, her husband is not a racist. She described him as “kind, open and tolerant”. On Instagram she wrote: “The wolf is the animal symbol of Turkey. It has nothing to do with racism or fascism.”
Case caused tensions between Germany and Turkey
Demiral was heavily criticized for his hand gesture by UEFA and also by the German government. The case has now become a political issue and has led to tensions in relations between Germany and Turkey. The Turkish government in Ankara summoned the German ambassador on Wednesday, and the Foreign Office followed suit one day later by summoning the Turkish ambassador.
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The Turkish Foreign Ministry had previously described the investigation into Demiral initiated by UEFA as unacceptable. According to the ministry, not every person who displays the symbol of the Grey Wolves can be described as right-wing extremist. The wolf salute is also not banned in Germany and the reactions of the German authorities are “xenophobic,” the ministry said.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan plans to attend Turkey’s quarter-final match against the Netherlands in Berlin on Saturday. In Turkey, the ultra-nationalist MHP, an ally of Erdoğan’s Islamic-conservative AKP, is the political representative of the Ülkücü movement.
Ultras call on fans to do the “wolf salute”
Recently, however, representatives of the political center have also used the “wolf salute” to appeal to nationalist-oriented voters. On Platform X, Turkish ultra fans called on all Turkish supporters present in the stadium to show the controversial gesture during the national anthem.
After his controversial “wolf salute” gesture in the round of 16 against Austria, UEFA has banned Turkish national player Merih Demiral for two matches. The association announced this based on a decision by the disciplinary body. According to the decision, the player was banned based on the regulations for “inappropriate behavior”.
Demiral had “not complied with the general principles of conduct, violated the basic rules of good behavior, used sporting events for rallies of a non-sporting nature and brought football into disrepute,” the European Football Union explained its decision.
