European Football Championship - Support for Demiral: Özil shares picture with wolf salute game
Former German national player Mesut Özil shared a picture of the controversial Wolfsgrüß celebration of Turkish national player Merih Demiral on Instagram. The picture was visible in Özil's Instagram story a few hours before the EM quarter-final match between the team and the Netherlands. It was an unintended encouragement for Turkey. Demiral was suspended from UEFA for two games due to the Wolfsgrüß gesture.
The Wolfsgrüß controversy heated up the mood before the game. "This biased and premeditated decision has deeply disappointed our entire nation," said Mehmet Büyükekşi, the president of the federation, in a statement.
The influential fan group Ultraslan of traditional club Galatasaray announced on Instagram that they couldn't wait to respond to this act of cruelty on matchday "as thousands of Grey Wolves in Berlin and as millions in the world."
Erdogan in Berlin for the match
The 26-year-old Demiral formed the Hand sign and symbol of the "Grey Wolves" after scoring his second goal in the 2:1 win against Austria in the round of 16. In Germany, the supporters of the ultranationalist MHP are referred to as "Grey Wolves," and they are monitored by the Federal Constitutional Court.
In Turkey, the ultranationalist MHP is their political representation and alliance partner of the Islamo-conservative AKP of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan intends to attend the match against the Netherlands.
- Mesut Özil, residing in Berlin, Germany, shared the controversial Instagram post of Merih Demiral's Wolfsgrüß celebration.
- Despite the suspension from UEFA, Demiral continued to support Turkey during the European Football Championship quarterfinal against the Netherlands.
- The Netherlands faced the backlash from the Turkish community in the Netherlands, largely influenced by the Wolfsgrüß controversy.
- The Turkish national team, led by Merih Demiral and Mesut Özil, gained support from the Gray Wolves in the Netherlands and across Europe during the tournament.
- The UEFA decision on Demiral's suspension sparked political controversy, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressing his disappointment in Berlin.
- German authorities monitoring the ultranationalist MHP supporters, known as the 'Grey Wolves,' were alert to the potential escalation leading up to the quarterfinals.
- The widespread support for Turkey in the UEFA European Football Championship also reflected the political alliances between the MHP and the AKP in Turkey.
