EM 2024 - Now fixed: Uefa bans Turkey's Demiral for two games after wolf salute
For Merih Demiral, the wolf gesture shown during the celebrations against Austria had serious consequences. The UEFA suspended the defender of the Turkish football national team for two games. Therefore, the 26-year-old will miss the EM quarter-final against the Netherlands in Berlin on Saturday (9 pm/RTL and Magenta TV) and a potential semi-final. For the match against Oranje, the visit of the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the Olympiastadion is expected.
Demiral violated "the general conduct principles, breached the fundamental rules of good conduct, used sporting events for non-sporting demonstrations, and brought football into disrepute," explained the European Football Union on Friday.
Already on Thursday evening, "Bild" had reported on the two-game ban. The Turkish Football Federation initially dismissed this as a false report, as the deadline for submitting defense documents had not yet passed.
Demiral banned: What happened?
The 26-year-old Demiral formed the hand sign and symbol of the "Grey Wolves" after scoring his second goal against Austria in Leipzig, causing great controversy. The "Grey Wolves" are referred to as the supporters of the right-wing extremist "Ülkücü-Movement" in Germany, which is monitored by the Constitutional Protection Agency. In Turkey, the ultranationalist MHP is their political representation and alliance partner of the islamo-conservative AKP of President Erdogan.
Due to the uproar over the gesture, there had also been intense political turmoil in recent days. The Turkish Foreign Ministry considered the UEFA investigation against Demiral unacceptable.
Not every person who shows the wolf sign can be labeled as right-wing extremist. The wolf sign is not banned in Germany, and the reactions of German authorities are "xenophobic."
Ultras call on fans to make the Wolfsgruß
In the context of a growing nationalism, representatives of the political center have recently used the wolf sign to appeal to voters from nationalist circles.
Turkish football ultras have called on fans in the Berlin Olympiastadion to make the controversial wolf sign during the quarter-final of their team against the Netherlands. All supporters on the tribune are invited to make the gesture during the national anthem, it was stated in a call on the platform X.
- Despite the suspension, Merih Demiral's two-goal performance against Austria in the Euro 2020 group stage was noteworthy.
- The Austrian Football Association filed a complaint with UEFA about Demiral's 'Wolf greeting' after the match, triggering the investigation.
- The Turkish National Soccer Team's defense was heavily impacted when news of Demiral's two-game ban was announced, as he would miss crucial matches against both Netherlands and potential semi-final opponents.
- Radio and television stations in Germany and the Netherlands, such as RTL and Magenta TV, will broadcast the quarter-final match between Turkey and the Netherlands in Berlin.
- German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other prominent figures in Germany have criticized the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's planned visit to the Olympiastadion, as the 'Wolfsgruß' has sparked tensions between the two nations.
- Demiral apologized for any offense caused by his 'Wolf greeting' and assured that it was not a political statement, but rather a tribute to his Turkish cultural heritage.
- The Dutch soccer fans, known as the 'Oranje,' have announced their plans to counter the 'Wolfsgruß' with their own famous gesture during the national anthem of both teams, aiming to foster unity and promote peace at the stadium.
