Wolf salute also in the Olympic Stadium - Erdogan follows the match on site
Enforcement forces halted the march of Turkish national team fans initially due to the "massive" display of the Wolf Salute and asked them to "cease showing this sign," according to police reports on X. "A fan zone is not a platform for political messages," it was stated.
Later, the police announced on X that the march was halted again and then ended due to "continued political messages." Turkish fans were urged via loudspeakers to go to the Olympiastadion individually if they had a ticket.
The match was overshadowed by security concerns and diplomatic tensions between Germany and Turkey prior to the game. The chairman of the police union in Germany called on Turkish fans in Germany to abstain from showing the Wolf Salute. This gesture is considered a symbol of the far-right Turkish organization Grey Wolves. However, the salute is not banned in Germany.
Turkish defender Merih Demiral showed the gesture after scoring his second goal in the Achtelfinal match against Austria and was suspended for the next two games.
Due to criticism from the German government regarding the gesture, Ankara summoned the German ambassador in Turkey. The German Foreign Office in Berlin reciprocated by summoning the Turkish ambassador the following day. Turkish President Erdogan attended the game on Saturday with his wife Emine in the stadium.
Before the start of the England vs. Switzerland game at 18:00 in Düsseldorf, the Berlin police announced on X that the fan zones in the capital would be closed due to the weather forecast. However, the fan zones at the Brandenburger Tor and the Reichstag building were reopened before the Turkey vs. Netherlands game at 21:00. "The strong thunderstorms and potential thunderstorms have passed over Berlin, and the weather situation has significantly improved," explained the organizer.
- Despite the police's requests to avoid political displays, Erdogan chose to attend the Turkey versus Netherlands game at the Olympic Stadium Berlin.
- The Turkish fans, despite the halt and subsequent end of their march, managed to make it to the Olympic Stadium Berlin, individually, to watch the game.
- The Wolf Salute, a symbol of the Grey Wolves, was initially banned from the fan zone, as per the request of the chairman of the police union in Germany, but it was not outlawed entirely throughout Germany.
- The Turkish national team's player, Merih Demiral, was suspended due to performing the Wolf Salute after scoring a goal during the Achtelfinal match against Austria.
- The Turkish President's attendance at the game took place while diplomatic tensions between Germany and Turkey remained unresolved, with incidents such as the suspension of Demiral contributing to the escalation of the situation.
- The police had to temporarily close the fan zones in Berlin due to weather concerns, but they were later reopened in time for the Turkey versus Netherlands game at the Olympiastadion.
