European Football Championship - Erdogan wants to travel to Berlin for Turkey's quarter-final match
After the sharp criticism of Merih Demiral's celebration as a Turkish football national team player during the EM, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to make a short-term trip to Berlin to watch the Turkey versus Netherlands quarter-final match in the stadium.
Erdogan cancelled his planned trip to Azerbaijan, according to informed circles reported by the German Press Agency. In Turkish media, it was stated that the reason was the debate about the so-called Wolf's Salute, which Demiral triggered with his celebration. Erdogan wants to strengthen the Turkish team's morale.
Demiral showed the so-called Wolf's Salute with both hands after scoring his second goal in Leipzig during the 2:1 in the round of 16 against Austria. As "Grey Wolves," the supporters of the right-wing extremist "Grey Wolves Movement" are referred to in Germany, which is monitored by the Constitutional Protection Agency. In Turkey, the ultranationalist MHP is their political representation and coalition partner of the Islamo-conservative AKP of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The greeting typically expresses allegiance and sympathy with the movement and its ideology. Demiral stated that he only wanted to express that he was proud to be Turkish and that there was no hidden message behind it.
Recent use of the Wolf's Salute in Turkey has also been seen from parts of the opposition to appeal to nationalists - for example, in the presidential campaign of the former candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who belongs to the religious minority of Alevites.
- The German Press Agency reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had cancelled his trip to Azerbaijan due to the controversy surrounding Merih Demiral's goal celebration at the European Football Championship (EM).
- Demiral's celebration, which involved the 'Wolf's Salute', had sparked a debate in Turkish media and criticism from various quarters.
- In the Quarterfinals of the EM, Turkey was set to face the Netherlands, and Erdogan decided to attend the match in Berlin to boost the team's morale.
- The 'Wolf's Salute' is a greeting associated with the Turkish ultranationalist MHP, a political representation of the Grey Wolves Movement, which is monitored by Germany's Constitutional Protection Agency.
- Demiral, who is a member of the Turkish football national team, had used the 'Wolf's Salute' to celebrate scoring against Austria in the Round of 16 at the EM.
- The German government and soccer association have historically criticized the usage of this salute, citing its association with right-wing extremism.
- In Istanbul, the use of the 'Wolf's Salute' has also been seen among parts of the opposition, such as in the presidential campaign of Kemal Kilicdaroglu, a religious minority Alevite.
- The goal celebration incident had significant political undertones, with Erdogan planning to attend the quarterfinals match in Berlin amidst the ongoing debate.
