Turkey star could be suspended for Euro 2024 after making banned gesture against Austria

Turkey defender Merih Demiral could be hit with a UEFA ban for his gesture during the 2-1 win over Austria at Euro 2024 on Tuesday evening.

Demiral scored twice to secure Turkey’s victory over Austria in the round of 16, setting up a quarter-final match against the Netherlands on Saturday.

The 26-year-old, however, faces a penalty from UEFA for making a wolf salute while celebrating his second goal.

The gesture is associated with the Grey Wolves, a far-right extremist group with close links to Turkey’s ruling party, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

The Grey Wolf salute is banned in Austria and is punishable by a fine of up to €4,000 (£3,390).

The group, founded in the 1960s and also banned in France, advocated violence against left-wing activists and ethnic minorities in the 1980s.

“There is no place for symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists in our stadiums,” wrote Nancy Faeser, German Interior Minister, in a post on X.

“Using the European Football Championship as a platform to spread racism is completely unacceptable.”

UEFA has launched an investigation into Demiral’s gesture and the Turkey defender could be suspended for his country’s quarter-final clash with the Netherlands this weekend.

A UEFA statement issued on Wednesday read: “In connection with the 2024 UEFA European Championship round of 16 match between Austria and Turkey, which took place on 2 July 2024 in Leipzig, Germany, an investigation has been opened under Article 31(4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations into alleged improper conduct by Turkish Football Federation player Merih Demiral.”

In a statement after Turkey’s victory, Demiral revealed that he had planned to make the gesture during the match.

“I had a goal celebration in my head, which I did. I’m very proud because I’m Turkish, so after the goal I felt it deep down and I wanted to do it, and I’m very happy I did it,” he said.

Demiral later posted a photo on X celebrating the gesture and wrote: “ne mutlu Turkum diyene”, which translates to “how happy is he who says he is Turkish.”

Demiral caused outrage with his gesture, with Austrian journalist Michael Bonvalot writing on X: “Openly shows the symbol of the fascist Grey Wolves. These paramilitary forces were responsible for thousands of deaths and today sit in the Turkish government together with Erdogan’s AKP. When will UEFA react?”

During the Euro 2024 group stage, Albanian striker Mirlind Daku was suspended for two matches by UEFA after he used a megaphone to join fans chanting nationalist slogans against Serbia and Macedonia.

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