Turkey’s Demiral to be suspended for two games over wolf gesture, German media report

A diplomatic uproar was caused by a gesture associated with the far-right nationalist group Grey Wolves by Turkish player Merih Demiral after scoring his second goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 Round of 16 soccer match between Austria and Turkey in Leipzig, Germany on Tuesday night. UEFA said on Wednesday it has opened an investigation into 'alleged inappropriate behavior.'

Τurkey defender Merih Demiral is to be banned for two games by UEFA following a gesture he made during his side's last-16 win against Austria on Tuesday and will miss Saturday's Euro 2024 quarter-final against Netherlands, German media reported.

The 26-year-old centre back scored twice in a 2-1 win over the Austrians to send his side into the last eight for the first time since 2008, and celebrated by making a "wolf" gesture with his fingers.

The gesture is linked to the "Grey Wolves," an ultra-nationalist youth branch of Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which is an ally of President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party.

"The symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists have no place in our stadiums," Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said in a post on X, and UEFA subsequently opened a disciplinary case against Demiral.

German newspaper Bild...

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