EM 2024 - "Massive" wolf salute shown: Police end Turkish fan march in Berlin
Due to many Turkish football fans continuously displaying the controversial Wolf's Salute, the Berlin Police have ended the fan march before the EU-Quarterfinal against the Netherlands. The reason being "continuous political messages," as the Police stated on the platform X a few hours before kick-off at 21.00 PM.
Turkish fans were urged over loudspeakers to move individually towards the stadium if they had a ticket for the game. The fan march was "not a platform for political messages," the Police added. The chairman of the police union called on fans in Germany to abstain from showing the Wolf's Salute.
The situation before the EM-Party in Berlin was further heated up by the controversy surrounding Merih Demiral's Wolf's Salute as the Turkish national player had shown the gesture after his second goal in the Achtelfinale against Austria, resulting in a two-game suspension from UEFA.
In Turkey, the UEFA's decision sparked partial outrage. Turkish football Ultras called on fans to display the Wolf's Salute at the Berlin Olympic Stadium.
Due to criticism from the German government regarding the gesture, Ankara summoned the German Ambassador in Turkey. The German Foreign Office reciprocally summoned the Turkish Ambassador the following day. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a visit to the game.
The Wolf's Salute typically conveys allegiance or sympathy with the Turkish ultranationalist Grey Wolves Movement and its ideology. In Turkey, it is used by the ultranationalist MHP party, which is a partner in the Erdogan government. However, the gesture is not banned in Germany.
Demiral solves the Wolf's Salute controversy
The controversy surrounding Merih Demiral's Wolf's Salute added fuel to the situation before the EU-Quarterfinal in Berlin. Demiral had shown the gesture after scoring his second goal in the Achtelfinale against Austria, leading to a two-game suspension from UEFA.
The decision by UEFA sparked outrage in Turkey, with Turkish football Ultras urging fans to display the Wolf's Salute at the Berlin Olympic Stadium.
Due to criticism from the German government regarding the gesture, Ankara summoned the German Ambassador in Turkey. The German Foreign Office reciprocally summoned the Turkish Ambassador the following day. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a visit to the game.
The Wolf's Salute symbolizes loyalty or sympathy with the Turkish ultranationalist Grey Wolves Movement and its ideology in the Regulation. In Turkey, it is used by the ultranationalist MHP party, which is a partner in the Erdogan government. However, the gesture remains legal in Germany.
The Netherlands will face a charged atmosphere in the EU-Quarterfinal against Turkey, as the Turkish national football team's Merih Demiral was controversially suspended by UEFA for displaying the Wolf's Salute during a previous match. Despite this, fans in the Netherlands are expected to witness Turkish fans greeting each other with the Wolf's Salute, as it is a common practice among Turkish supporters.
