Merih Demiral suspended for Grey Wolves salute at Euro 2024

The suspension came for Merih Demiral, a former Turkish player for Atalanta and Juventus, now playing for Al-Ahli, who celebrated his second goal in the 2-1 win over Austria at Euro 2024 by imitating the Grey Wolves salute with his hands, a gesture associated with the extremist and right-wing nationalist Turkish movement. The salute, banned by UEFA regulations because it is considered political, led to an investigation by the organisation and a subsequent sanction. As if that were not enough, the incident has sparked a real diplomatic affair between Germany and Turkey. The presence of President Erdogan, who commented on the incident, in Berlin to watch the match against the Netherlands adds even more tension to an already delicate situation.

The Grey Wolves Movement

The Grey Wolves, officially known as Ulku Ocaklari, are the youth movement of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AK). The movement is known for its involvement in political violence and support for the Armenian genocide. The Grey Wolves gesture is banned in various countries, including France and Austria, where it can result in fines of up to four thousand euros.

Reactions and consequences

Demiral’s salute immediately sparked reactions both on and off the pitch. The German interior minister called on UEFA to intervene, prompting the German government to summon the German ambassador to Ankara to discuss the incident. The Turkish ambassador in Berlin was subsequently summoned by the German government, underlining the diplomatic gravity of the situation.

UEFA’s decision and Turkey’s reaction

UEFA decided to suspend Demiral for two matches, forcing him to miss the next match against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals. The decision was heavily criticized by Turkish state television TRT, which called it “scandalous”. Demiral defended his gesture, expressing national pride and a desire to celebrate with the Turkish fans in the stands.

Erdogan’s words

“Merih (Demiral) showed joy in this photo.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said so, as reported by Anadolu, commenting on the Grey Wolves salute the athlete made after scoring against Austria at the 2024 European Championship in Germany, for which UEFA punished him with a two-match ban. “The necessary steps have been taken,” Erdogan added, referring to the German ambassador’s summons to Ankara after Berlin questioned the player’s gesture, asking UEFA to intervene.

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