Europe’s football governing body, UEFA has suspended Turkish defender Merih Demiral, for two matches, following a controversial hand gesture he made at the Euro 2024 during breathless 2-1 win over Austria in Leipzig.
This incident has ignited a diplomatic dispute between Turkey and Germany, the host nation.
Turkey’s vice president, Cevdet Yilmaz, criticized the decision as unacceptable and demanded its reversal.
“The excitement and beauty of football should not be overshadowed by political decisions,” Yilmaz asserted.
Demiral’s suspension will prevent him from playing in Turkey’s quarterfinal match against the Netherlands on Saturday, and potentially the semifinal, if Turkey advances.
In a show of support, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has decided to attend Saturday’s game, canceling a planned meeting in Azerbaijan.
Before UEFA’s decision was publicized, Erdogan defended Demiral, claiming the 26-year-old defender was merely displaying his “excitement” after scoring his second goal in Turkey’s 2-1 victory over Austria.
UEFA stated that Demiral’s ban was due to “failing to comply with the general principles of conduct, for violating the basic rules of decent conduct, for using sports events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and for bringing the sport of football into disrepute.”
The Turkish soccer association has yet to respond to the suspension, though Turkish media suggest it will appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Omer Celik, spokesperson for Erdogan’s ruling party, condemned UEFA’s ban as “an extremely wrong decision,” alleging that the governing body had succumbed to “certain pressure groups.” He commented on social media platform X, “UEFA’s decision has cast a shadow of political influence over football.”
Demiral scored twice, putting his team in control, before Michael Gregoritsch reduced the deficit at the hour mark, setting up a frantic finale.
Demiral’s goals were crucial in advancing Turkey to the quarterfinals. Following his second goal, he made a hand gesture associated with the Turkish nationalist group Ulku Ocaklari, also known as the Gray Wolves.
Demiral defended his gesture, describing it as an innocent display of national pride, and expressed his hope for “more opportunities to do the same gesture again.”
The gesture was condemned by German interior minister Nancy Faeser and other German politicians, prompting a strong response from Turkish authorities and the summoning of the German ambassador.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry criticized UEFA’s investigation as a politically driven response “to the use of a historical and cultural symbol,” and accused German authorities of xenophobia in their remarks about Demiral’s gesture.
UEFA initiated its investigation into Demiral’s gesture on Wednesday, and the Turkish side had until Friday to present its case.
In 2019, Demiral was among 16 Turkish players reprimanded for making military-style salutes during matches amidst Turkey’s military offensive in Syria.
The Gray Wolves, originally the youth wing of Turkey’s far-right Nationalist Movement Party, which is currently allied with Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party, have been implicated in politically motivated violence since their inception in the 1960s.
