UEFA suspends Merih Demiral for two matches after Wolfsgruß-Eklat <unk> Erdogan wants to travel to Berlin
Turkish defender Merih Demiral, 26, is set to be suspended by the UEFA for two games. The trigger for this is the controversial 'Wolfsalute' he displayed after Turkey's victory against Austria. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, 70, has announced his intention to travel to Berlin for Turkey's match against the Netherlands.
Demiral to Miss Quarterfinals and Possible Semifinals
As reported by the BILD newspaper, the UEFA has imposed a two-game suspension on Merih Demiral. The Turkish defender, who plays for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, would thus miss the Turkey vs Netherlands quarterfinal on Saturday, July 6th. He would also be absent from a potential semifinal against England or Switzerland.
A suspension of the defensive chief would be a significant weakening for the Turkish team. In the round of 16 against Austria, Demiral scored both of his team's goals, deciding the match. Current sports betting odds from bookmakers also reflect how Demiral's potential suspension reduces Turkey's chances of progressing:
- Netherlands to win: 1.62
- Draw: 4.10
- Turkey to win: 5.30
The UEFA has yet to confirm this. Reports suggest that a hearing will take place this Friday morning, where Demiral can defend himself against the accusations. However, it seems unlikely that Demiral and the UEFA will reach an agreement.
After the game, Demiral commented on his celebration and the Wolfsalute to the BILD newspaper with the following words:
I celebrated the way I did because it has something to do with my Turkish identity. I saw people in the stadium making the same gesture. – Merih Demiral, Defender, Turkey, Bild*
What Does the Controversial Wolfsalute Mean?
The Wolfsalute displayed by Demiral has been a hot topic for days. After Turkey's victory against Austria, Demiral made the gesture towards Turkish fans. But what does the Wolfsalute actually mean?
The gesture is a symbol of the Grey Wolves movement. This movement is monitored by the German domestic intelligence agency. It has more than 12,000 supporters in Germany, making it one of the largest right-wing extremist groups in the country. The Wolfsalute and the Grey Wolves movement are also banned in other countries like France and Austria.
The Grey Wolves movement is represented in Turkey by the ultra-nationalist MHP party, which is the coalition partner of Erdogan's Islamist-conservative AKP.
Erdogan Announces Trip to Berlin
The discussion surrounding the Wolfsalute is now also causing political waves. In Turkey, there is little understanding for the UEFA and German politics' outrage: The Wolfsalute is considered a historical and cultural symbol of celebration in sports events, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The UEFA's decision is strongly criticized in Turkey and seen as biased.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, 53, sharply criticized Demiral's salute on social media:
The symbols of Turkish far-right extremists have no place in our stadiums. Using the UEFA European Football Championship as a platform for racism is completely unacceptable. We expect UEFA to investigate this case and consider sanctions. https://t.co/65yoSUAAQJ
— Nancy Faeser (@NancyFaeser) July 3, 2024
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently accused her of xenophobia. Meanwhile, Turkish President Erdoğan has also gotten involved. He has cancelled a planned trip to Azerbaijan and will instead travel to Berlin. There, he will watch the quarter-final match of the Turkish national team against the Netherlands and show his support for his team.
The special significance of Berlin for the Turkish community in Germany
The fact that the Turkish president has cancelled his planned foreign trip to Azerbaijan and is traveling to Berlin has a strong impact on the Turkish community in Germany, especially for Berlin.
In Germany, around 2.9 million people have a Turkish migration background. About 1.5 million of them have Turkish citizenship.
Studies show that in Berlin, more than 116,500 people have Turkish citizenship. In total, around 200,000 people in the capital have a Turkish migration background, making them the largest immigrant group in the city and accounting for 6% of the entire metropolitan population. Nowhere else outside of Turkey do more people of Turkish origin live than in Berlin.
President Erdoğan's visit to the game in Berlin could be seen as a strong gesture of support by the Turkish community.
UEFA sticks to its line and bans political messages
UEFA has a clear line on political messages: They are banned both on the pitch and in the stands. Violations are punished with bans and/or fines.
This also happened to Albanian striker Mirlind Daku, 26. After the game of the Albanian national team against Croatia, Daku led nationalist chants with a megaphone. He was subsequently banned for two games, and the Albanian federation was fined 25,000 euros.
Although an official confirmation is still pending, it is likely that Demiral will also face a ban, and the Turkish federation will be fined.
Given the UEFA's stance on political messages, it's suspected that Demiral's suspension could be upheld following this Friday's hearing.
Amidst the controversy, Demiral's absence in the quarterfinal against the Netherlands could potentially affect Turkey's betting odds, as indicated by bookmakers.
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