European Football Championship report: Two-game ban for Demiral after wolf salute
The wolf salute shown when celebrating a goal against Austria apparently has serious consequences for Merih Demiral. Photo
© Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
UEFA is apparently taking tough action. Demiral is to be sanctioned with a ban, writes Bild. Turkish media report that the case has not yet been finally decided.
According to a media report, the wolf salute that Merih Demiral showed when celebrating a goal against Austria will apparently have serious consequences. According to information from the “Bild” newspaper, UEFA has banned the Turkish national team defender for two matches.
This means that the 26-year-old will be missing from his team’s European Championship quarter-final on Saturday in Berlin against the Netherlands (9 p.m./RTL and Magenta TV) and in a possible semi-final. However, Turkish media subsequently released information from the Turkish association that a decision had not yet been made in the case. UEFA initially did not want to comment on the matter that evening.
Demiral formed the hand sign and symbol of the “Grey Wolves” with both hands after his goal in Leipzig in the 2:1 round of 16 win against Austria, causing much outrage. The “Grey Wolves” are the name given to the supporters of the right-wing extremist “Ülkücü movement”, which is monitored in Germany by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. In Turkey, the ultra-nationalist MHP is their political representative and an ally of the Islamic-conservative AKP of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“Bild”: Fine for Bellingham
Demiral initially received support from his home country. The head of the ultra-nationalist MHP, Devlet Bahceli, described the initiation of proceedings by UEFA as a “provocation”. The step was “extremely biased and wrong”.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry also condemned the investigation and described it as unacceptable. Not everyone who displays the Grey Wolves sign 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 also summoned the German ambassador on Wednesday.
According to “Bild”, the Englishman Jude Bellingham will also be punished. The former BVB player who plays for Real Madrid will not be banned after making an obscene gesture while celebrating a goal, but will receive a fine of at least 20,000 euros.
dpa
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