UEFA punished Turkey’s player Merih Demiral by suspending him for two matches on Friday. This came after Demiral made a gesture during the European Championship that sparked a controversy between Turkey and Germany.
As a result of the ban, Demiral will miss Turkey’s quarterfinal against the Netherlands on Saturday and potentially the semifinal if Turkey advances.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan changed his plans to attend a meeting in Azerbaijan so he could be at Saturday’s game to support the team.
UEFA explained that Demiral was suspended “for not following the general principles of conduct, for breaching basic rules of decent behavior, for using sporting events for non-sporting displays, and for damaging the reputation of football.”
During Turkey’s victory over Austria, Demiral scored both goals and celebrated by making a hand gesture associated with a nationalist group. This gesture is linked to the Turkish ultra-nationalist organization Ulku Ocaklari, also known as the Gray Wolves.
Demiral defended his actions, describing them as a harmless expression of national pride. He expressed a desire to repeat the gesture in the future.
The gesture drew criticism from German officials, including Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and other politicians, which prompted a strong reaction from Turkish authorities, who summoned the German ambassador in response.
