UEFA investigates Turkish player for celebrating goal – DW

Euro 2024 host UEFA announced on Wednesday that it was investigating Turkey. German international footballer Merih Demiral has been given a suspended prison sentence for “inappropriate behaviour” during his team’s knockout match against Austria in Leipzig.

After scoring a goal in Tuesday night’s knockout match, the 26-year-old defender made the wolf salute – the symbol of Turkey’s far-right “Grey Wolves” – with both hands.

Demiral gave his team the lead less than a minute into the match and scored a second goal just before the hour mark. After scoring the second goal, he made the gesture – raising his index finger and little finger – associated with the violent ultra-nationalist organisation

What the player said

Demiral defended his controversial celebratory gesture, saying it was simply an expression of national pride.

“The way I celebrated my goal has something to do with my Turkish identity,” Demiral said when asked at the post-match press conference. “That’s why I made that gesture.”

Demiral, who was named player of the match, said he saw people in the stadium who had also made the gesture.

“There was no hidden message” behind it, Demiral said.

“We are all Turks, I am very proud to be Turkish and that is the meaning of this gesture. I just wanted to show how happy and proud I am,” Demiral said.

The player hopes there will be “even more opportunities to show this gesture”. The team will face the Netherlands in Berlin on Saturday.

Why are people upset about this gesture?

Non-Turkish ethnic minorities, such as Kurds, Greeks and Armenians, are among the preferred targets of the Grey Wolves, a paramilitary group that is often said to be involved in attacks and clashes with Kurdish and left-wing activists.

The group was formed in the late 1960s and rose to prominence amid the political violence of the late 1970s.

Ahead of the round of 16, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) had called on European football’s governing body UEFA not to tolerate the wolf salute in stadiums. It said some Turkish fans had done so in previous matches.

“This has happened several times and has been broadcast live on television,” said Kamal Sido, STP’s Middle East representative. “UEFA should take a clear position against the display of far-right symbols and ban the display of the wolf salute in stadiums.”

“It is understandable and welcome that fans of the Turkish national team celebrate their team’s successes,” Sido continued.

The wolf salute has “nothing to do with a peaceful and justified celebration and, above all, harms the majority of peaceful supporters.”

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser condemned Demiral’s goal celebration and urged UEFA to take action.

“The symbols of the Turkish far right have no place in our stadiums,” she said.

“It is not acceptable to use the Euro as a platform for racism. We expect UEFA to look into this matter and consider sanctions.”

rc/sms (dpa, SID)