The UEFA Disciplinary Body banned Turkish footballer Merih Demiral for two matches after he saluted the wolf in the match against Austria. (picture alliance / ASSOCIATED PRESS / Ebrahim Noroozi)
Disciplinary body UEFA has suspended Turkey international Merih Demiral for two matches. Officially because of “inappropriate behavior,” as the European football association announced on Friday.
Demiral showed the salute of the so-called wolves in the round of 16 of the European Championships against Austria (2-1) after he scored to make it 2-0. The wolf salute is a symbol of the right-wing extremist movement “Gray Wolves”, which is politically linked to the ultranationalist MHP in Turkey. The MHP is a coalition partner of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s conservative Islamic AKP.
Demiral: “No hidden signal”
Demiral explained that the cheering was related to his “Turkish identity.” “We are all Turkish and I am very proud to be Turkish. This was not a hidden gesture. I hope there will be more opportunities to show this gesture.”
The “Gray Wolves” are banned in France. In Austria, showing the wolf salute is a punishable offence. The organization is not banned in Germany, but the Office for the Protection of the Constitution monitors its followers.
Turkey will certainly be without Demiral in the quarter-finals against the Netherlands on Saturday. He is also unlikely to play in the semi-final against the Turks.
Faeser asked UEFA to respond
However, the situation has long gone beyond football. Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser asked UEFA to respond through Platform she.
Türkiye describes Germany’s reaction as “xenophobic”
The situation is also spreading widely in Turkey. Ankara summoned the German ambassador on Wednesday. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the “reaction of the German authorities towards Mr. Demiral” was “itself xenophobic”.
President Erdogan even announced that he would spontaneously travel to Berlin for the quarter finals of the European Championship. Erdogan wants to strengthen the back of the Turkish team, informed circles said.
Meanwhile, Turkish ultras have asked Turkish fans to show the wolves’ salute in the stadium on Saturday. “We invite all our fans in the stands to show that the Gray Wolves sign is not ‘racism’ but the ‘national symbol of Turkey’ by signing the Gray Wolves during the national anthem,” he said calling X.
A big challenge for the police
The game in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium will be an even bigger challenge for the police than it already is. “With the current field of participants, there is no more explosive match than the Netherlands against Turkey in Berlin,” Benjamin Jendro of the Berlin Police Union told DPA. It is expected that around 3,000 officers will be on duty and support has been requested from all over the country.
Around 200,000 people of Turkish origin live in Berlin, many of whom will be rooting for the Turkish team – even away from thousands of fans. If Turkey wins, motor stages will be expected.
For some Turkish players, the European Championship is almost like a home game: “Obviously we are given extra pressure because we are playing at home,” said Turkish captain Hakan Calhanoglu, one of five nationally-born players in Germany.