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UEFA Investigates Turkey's Demiral Over Alleged Nationalist Salute at Euro 2024

Posted : 03 July 2024

UEFA announced on Wednesday that they had initiated an investigation into Turkish defender Merih Demiral following his goal celebration during Turkey's 2-1 victory over Austria at Euro 2024. The tournament organizers stated they were probing Demiral for what they described as "inappropriate behavior" during the knockout match held in Leipzig the previous day. The gesture in question, a salute made towards the crowd after scoring his second goal, is linked with the Turkish ultra-nationalist group Grey Wolves.

 

The controversy surrounding Demiral's celebration intensified when Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser condemned the gesture, asserting that symbols associated with Turkish right-wing extremism had no place in European stadiums. She emphasized that using a prestigious event like the European Championships as a platform for racist symbolism was completely unacceptable.

 

Following the game, Demiral defended his actions, denying any underlying message in his celebration and explaining that it was a display of pride in his Turkish identity. He clarified that his intent was to express happiness and pride, inspired by seeing Turkish supporters in the stands using the same salute. Despite the controversy, Demiral expressed hope for more opportunities to make similar gestures in the future.

 

The Grey Wolves, often viewed as the militant faction of Turkey's Movement Party (MHP), have a contentious history marked by radical ideologies and past violence against leftist activists and ethnic minorities. In response to the incident, the Society for Threatened Peoples, a German human rights organization, urged UEFA to take stringent measures against the use of the wolf salute, describing it as a symbol of oppression and persecution.

 

Additionally, Austrian forward Michael Gregoritsch called for fans to distance themselves from right-wing ideologies following reports of racist chanting by Austrian supporters during the match. The chant, which included xenophobic lyrics, had sparked controversy previously in Germany, underscoring ongoing concerns over discrimination in football stadiums.

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