Europe’s soccer governing physique UEFA on Friday handed a two-match ban to Turkish participant Merih Demiral for making a controversial political gesture.
Demiral made the form of a wolf’s head along with his fingers after his second objective in a 2-1 victory over Austria on Tuesday. The gesture is related to the Turkish far proper.
What else do we all know concerning the incident?
UEFA mentioned that it sanctioned Demiral “for failing to adjust to the final rules of conduct, for violating the fundamental guidelines of respectable conduct, for utilizing sports activities occasions for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and for bringing the game of soccer into disrepute.”
Demiral will miss Turkey’s recreation in opposition to the Netherlands on Saturady and a possible semi-final in opposition to England or Switzerland if Turkey wins.
Demiral mentioned that he solely wished to specific that he was proud to be Turkish and there was no different message behind it.
Demiral posted a picture of the celebration on the platform X, previously Twitter, and mentioned “How glad is the one who says ‘I’m a Turk’.”
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz mentioned that the choice to ban Demiral was unacceptable.
“The sweetness and pleasure of soccer shouldn’t be overshadowed with political choices,” Yilmaz mentioned in a put up on X.
Demiral controversy causes diplomatic row
Turkey summoned the German ambassador on Wednesday over politicians’ reactions to Demiral’s gesture.
The Turkish International Ministry accused German authorities of “xenophobia.” It additionally cited a German intelligence report that acknowledged that “not each individual making the grey wolf signal may be described as a far-right extremist.”
German Agriculture Minister Cem Ozdemir, who himself has Turkish roots, mentioned that “nothing concerning the wolf salute is hidden,” including that it “stands for terror [and] fascism.”
German Inside Minister Nancy Faeser warned that the ” symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists haven’t any place in our stadiums.
A number of ministers and the spokesman of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AKP occasion condemned Faeser’s response.
Erdogan is ready to attend Turkey’s recreation in opposition to the Netherlands this weekend.
The Grey Wolves extremist group used violence within the Eighties in opposition to leftists, in addition to in opposition to Kurds, Armenians, Greeks and different ethnic minority teams
The group has been banned in Austria and France. It has not been banned in Germany.
The Grey Wolves have been labeled a terrorist group by the European Parliament in 2021.
sdi/kb (dpa, Reuters, AP, AFP)