Two-time goalscorer Merih Demiral showed the wolf salute during Turkey’s victory against Austria in the European Championship round of 16 – it is the symbol of the Turkish right-wing extremist organization “Grey Wolves”.
Demiral showed the salute with both hands at the game in Leipzig on Tuesday (July 2, 2024). The “Grey Wolves” are an ultra-nationalist, racist and violent organization. It is considered the largest right-wing extremist movement in Germany, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution speaks of more than 12,000 supporters of the group.
Neither the organization nor the salute are banned in Germany. Demiral therefore did not commit a crime. However, UEFA repeatedly sanctions political symbols, which the disciplinary body often considers “inappropriate for a sporting event.”
Sportschau has asked UEFA whether they believe the salute violates the association’s regulations and whether the disciplinary body will launch an investigation. Turkey will play against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals on Saturday at 9 p.m. in Berlin.
Wolf salute seen at fans’ celebrations
The salute of the “Grey Wolves” was already visible in the group phase. Thousands of Turkish fans celebrated after the victories in numerous German cities. “The wolf salute was seen at celebrations in every major German city. But it is an anti-democratic symbol,” said author Burak Yilmaz in an interview with Sportschau after Turkey’s game against Georgia.
A man gives the wolf salute during a motorcade following Turkey’s victory against Georgia.
Yilmaz has been researching the Grey Wolves for years and is calling for a different approach to the movement. The organization was banned in France in 2020. “This is a step that Germany should also take,” says Yilmaz. “The Grey Wolves use football to recruit new supporters. In the context of national team games, they try to normalize their symbols.”
The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) in Göttingen called for UEFA to take stricter action. “UEFA should clearly position itself against the display of right-wing extremist symbols,” said the human rights organization’s Middle East representative, Kamal Sido, in a statement.
Several right-wing extremist incidents involving various teams during the European Championship
During the group phase, there were several incidents involving right-wing extremism or nationalism. Most of them involved fans. Austrian supporters, for example, displayed a banner with the words “Defend Europe” – a slogan behind which right-wing extremists rally for a radical change in migration policy. The police also reported right-wing extremist incidents in several German cities after German games.
Austrian fans with “Defend Europe” banner
Mirlind Daku was also punished for making derogatory comments about Macedonia through a megaphone. Daku was banned for one game.
