Turkey defender Merih Demiral has been handed a two-match ban by UEFA and will miss Turkey’s Euro 2024 quarter-final match against the Netherlands.
Demiral was Turkey’s hero in the Round of 16 as the center-back scored both goals in his side’s 2-0 win against Austria. After scoring the second goal, Demiral celebrated the goal by making a ‘wolf salute’. This move proved to be controversial as the gesture is associated with the far-right extremist group Grey Wolves which is linked with the ruling coalition party of Turkey.
UEFA in a statement confirmed, “In relation to the 2024 European Championship Round of 16 matches 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 behavior of the Turkish Football Federation player, Merih Demiral.”
After the match, Demiral admitted that he had planned the celebration before the match started in case he scored against Austria.
“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.”
“The symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists have no place in our stadiums,” Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser wrote on X.
UEFA has now imposed a two-game ban on the defender and will miss his side’s quarter-final game against the Netherlands and if they do end up winning, he will also be sidelined for a semifinal clash against Switzerland or England.
Turkey Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz on Friday urged UEFA to lift the ban and said “The beauty and excitement of football should not be overshadowed with political decisions“.
England’s Jude Bellingham was also involved in one such act when the Real Madrid midfielder made a crotch grab while apparently looking towards Slovakia’s bench after scoring a late equalizer against Slovakia.
He also has been given a one-match ban, however, the 21-year-old’s ban is suspended for one year, and will be available for selection in the Euro 2024 quarterfinal. He has also been fined £25,400.
After the game Bellingham said it was “an inside joke towards some of his friends who were at the game“, adding he had “nothing but respect for how Slovakia played”.
England will play Switzerland in the last 8 match against Switzerland on 6 July while Turkey will face the Netherlands later on the same day.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
