The so-called wolf salute is Turkish international Demiral's undoing. He will now miss his team's European Championship quarter-final against the Netherlands.
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- The wolf salute shown during the goal celebration against Austria has serious consequences for Merih Demiral.
- The Turkish defender will be banned for two matches and will therefore miss the European Championship quarter-final against the Netherlands and the eventual semi-final.
- The supporters of the right-wing extremist "Ülkücü movement", which is monitored by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Germany, are known as the "Gray Wolves".
- Turkish football ultras have called on fans in Berlin's Olympic Stadium to show the controversial wolf salute during their team's quarter-final against the Netherlands.
For Merih Demiral, the wolf salute shown while celebrating a goal against Austria has serious consequences. UEFA has banned the Turkish national team defender for two matches. The 26-year-old will therefore miss the European Championship quarter-final against the Netherlands in Berlin on Saturday (21:00) and a possible semi-final. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to visit the Olympic Stadium for the match against Oranje.
Demiral had "failed to comply with the general principles of conduct, violated the basic rules of good behavior, used sporting events for non-sporting rallies and brought the sport of football into disrepute", UEFA explained its decision on Friday.
The German newspaper "Bild" had already reported on the two-match ban on Thursday evening. However, the Turkish association initially described this as a false report, as the deadline for submitting the defense papers had not yet passed.
What had happened?
The 26-year-old Demiral had formed the hand sign and symbol of the "gray wolves" with both hands after his second goal in Leipzig during the 2:1 win against Austria in the round of 16, causing much outrage. The supporters of the right-wing extremist "Ülkücü movement", which is monitored by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Germany, are known as the "Gray Wolves". In Turkey, the ultra-nationalist MHP is its political representative and ally of President Erdogan's Islamic-conservative AKP.
The scandal surrounding the gesture has also caused a stir at a political level in recent days. The Turkish Foreign Ministry described the UEFA investigation against Demiral as unacceptable.
Not every person who displays the Grey Wolves sign can be described as right-wing extremist. Moreover, the wolf salute is not banned in Germany and the reactions of the German authorities were "xenophobic".
Ultras call on fans to salute wolves
In the wake of growing nationalism, representatives of the political center have also recently used the wolf salute to appeal to voters from more nationalist milieus.
Turkish football ultras have called on fans in Berlin's Olympic Stadium to show the controversial wolf salute during their team's quarter-final against the Netherlands. All supporters in the stands are invited to make the gesture during the national anthem, according to an appeal on the X platform.
dpa
