Created Date: October 11, 2024 15:58
The UEFA Disciplinary Committee announced that it imposed a fine of 30 thousand euros for carrying and displaying Nazi symbols in the away stands during the Champions League match between Benfica and Atletico Madrid. Following this decision, the ban imposed on our national football player Merih Demiral, who received a 2-match suspension from UEFA for the “grey wolf salute” he made during the goal celebration, came to the agenda again.
Benfica hosted Atletico Madrid in the 2nd week match of the UEFA Champions League. While the Portuguese team won the match 4-0, the events in the stands left their mark on the match.
NAZI SYMBOLS WERE SHOWN
Visiting team Atletico Madrid fans protested by carrying Nazi symbols in the stands. Following this action of the Spanish fans who kept the symbols visible, the punishment that UEFA would impose became a matter of curiosity.
30 THOUSAND EURO PENALTY
The UEFA Disciplinary Committee, which announced its decision 9 days after the match, fined Atletico Madrid 30 thousand euros and banned them from attending one away match. Following this decision, it was argued on social media that there was a double standard against Merih Demiral.
WHAT DID MERİH DO?
Merih Demiral, who made the ‘grey wolf salute’ after scoring the goal in the Türkiye-Austria match in the last 16 rounds of EURO 2024, was banned from UEFA for 2 matches. Demiral’s “unsporting behavior” was cited as the reason for UEFA’s decision.
In the UEFA statement, “It was decided that Turkish Football Federation player Merih Demiral will be banned from a total of two UEFA representative team competitions in which he could participate, on the grounds that he did not comply with the general principles of conduct, violated the basic rules of courtesy, used the sports competition for non-sporting demonstrations and damaged the reputation of football.” He included the following statements.
‘DOUBLE STANDARD’
While UEFA gave Merih Demiral a 2-match ban, it was interpreted as a ‘double standard’ when it passed over Atletico Madrid, whose fans showed Nazi symbols, with a fine of 30 thousand euros.
