Turkey defender Merih Demiral faces a potential ban from UEFA over his gesture during the 2-1 win against Austria at Euro 2024 on Tuesday evening.
Demiral scored twice to secure Turkey’s victory over Austria in the last 16, which sets up a quarter-final tie against the Netherlands on Saturday.
However, the 26-year-old faces a sanction from UEFA after he made a wolf salute during the celebrations for his second goal.
The gesture is associated with the Grey Wolves, a far-right extremist group closely linked to Turkey’s ruling party, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
The Grey Wolves salute is banned in Austria and is punishable by a fine of up to €4,000 (£3,390).
The group, which was founded in the 1960s and is also banned in France, advocated used violence in the 1980s against leftist activists and ethnic minorities.
‘The symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists have no place in our stadiums,’ Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser wrote in a post on X.
‘Using the European Football Championship as a platform for racism is completely unacceptable.’
UEFA has now opened an investigation into Demiral’s gesture and the Turkey defender now faces a possible suspension for his nation’s quarter final against the Netherlands this weekend.
A statement from UEFA on Wednesday read: ‘In relation to the 2024 European Championship Round of 16 match between Austria and Türkiye played on 2 July 2024 in Leipzig, Germany, an investigation has been opened in accordance with Article 31(4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations in relation to the alleged inappropriate behaviour of the Turkish Football Federation player, Merih Demiral.’
Speaking after Turkey’s win, Demiral revealed he had planned to make the gesture during the game.
‘I had a goal celebration in mind, which I did. I am very proud because I am a Turk, therefore after the goal I felt it deeply, and I wanted to do it, and I am very happy about doing it,’ he said.
Demiral subsequently published an image on X of him celebrating with the gesture and wrote, ‘ne mutlu Turkum diyene,’ which translates to, ‘how happy is the one who says I am a Turk’.
Demiral sparked outrage with his use of the gesture, with Austrian journalist Michael Bonvalot posting on X: ‘He openly displays the symbol of the fascist Grey Wolves. These paramilitaries were responsible for thousands of deaths, and today they sit in the Turkish government together with Erdogan’s AKP. When will UEFA react?’
During the Euro 2024 group stage, Albania forward Mirlind Daku was banned for two games by UEFA after he used a megaphone to join supporters in nationalist chants against Serbia and Macedonia.
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