UEFA opens investigation after controversial gesture by Turk Merih Demiral – Libération

Euro Football 2024fileUEFA announced on Wednesday 3 July that it was investigating the “potential inappropriate behaviour” of the Turkish defender, accused of having used the sign of the Turkish far-right group “Grey Wolves” during the round of 16 won by his country on Tuesday against Austria (2-1). Ankara summons the German ambassador.

Two decisive goals, one controversial gesture. Merih Demiral did more than just shine on Tuesday, on the pitch at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig during Turkey’s victory over Austria, in the last eighth-final of this German Euro.

The Saudi club Al-Ahli FC’s central defender, who scored a crucial double to reach the quarter-finals, performed a controversial celebration after one of his two goals. Merih Demiral himself posted a photo on his X account of himself raising his arms and making a hand sign reminiscent of the “Grey Wolves”, a Turkish ultra-nationalist movement dissolved by the French government in 2020. An “ethics and disciplinary investigator” was immediately appointed, and further information on the case will follow, UEFA said in its statement.

“Unacceptable”

The affair is already having political repercussions. “The German ambassador in Ankara was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on this subject,” said a Turkish diplomatic source on condition of anonymity, while Demiral’s gesture has provoked a reaction from the German political class.

“The symbol of Turkish right-wing extremists has no place in our stadiums,” reacted Nancy Faeser, German Interior Minister, on X. “Using the Euro football championship as a platform for racism is totally unacceptable. We expect UEFA to investigate the case and consider sanctions.”

Merih Demiral accompanied the posted image with the motto of the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk: ​​”Happy is he who says ‘I am Turkish'”. The person concerned did not deny it to the press after the match, assuring that he wanted to evoke “the pride of being Turkish”. “I am very happy to have done it [cette célébration]all our supporters are proud of us. I had seen some of them do it, and so I wanted to do it even more,” he added.

Turkish Sports Minister Osman Askin Bak, shared the controversial photo on X, writing “That says it all”, a comment accompanied by the Turkish flag. The “Grey Wolves”, a paramilitary branch of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), is a partner of President Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), the ruling party. In the quarter-finals of the Euro, Turkey will face the Netherlands on Saturday (9 p.m.) in Berlin. There is still little chance that Merih Demiral will not be there.