AUSTRIA-TURKEY: CONTROVERSY OVER DEMIRAL CELEBRATION LINKED TO TURKISH NATIONALIST MOVEMENT, UEFA OPENS INVESTIGATION

UEFA has opened an investigation after Austria-Turkey at Euro 2024, over a gesture made by defender Merih Demiral. The gesture is linked to a controversial Turkish ultra-nationalist movement.

Is Merih Demiral facing a quarter-final ban? An investigation has been opened by UEFA into “potential inappropriate behaviour” by the Turkish international during the Euro 2024 round of 16 between Austria and Turkey. As a goal celebration, the 26-year-old defender made a gesture associated with a Turkish ultra-nationalist movement, whose French branch was dissolved in 2020 by the Interior Ministry.

With his hands, Merih Demiral, who scored twice in this match, is suspected of having made a “wolf salute”. This is the symbol of the Grey Wolves, a Turkish ultra-nationalist movement that is known for committing violent actions and being close to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This far-right organization was founded in the late 1960s. At the time, it was the armed wing of the neo-fascist and ultra-nationalist MHP party.

“The way I celebrated has something to do with my Turkish identity,” Merih Demiral admitted in a press conference, as reported by Blick and Sportschau media . “I saw people in the stadium who also made this gesture. There is no hidden message. 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,” he added.

A previous controversy related to Özil

The Grey Wolves (Grauen Wölfe) are not banned in Germany and can count on 18,000 members, according to the German-Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung , which looked in mid-June at the possibility of Euro 2024 helping to recruit among Turkish fans.

In July 2023, former German footballer of Turkish origin Mesut Özil sparked controversy by revealing a wolf’s head tattoo on his chest. This was immediately perceived as support for the Grey Wolves.