Questions about UEFA’s double standards in imposing sanctions

Switzerland – The European Football Association (UEFA) imposed a two-match suspension on Turkish national team defender Merih Demiral due to his celebration at Euro 2024, while ignoring the actions of other players who showed political and ideological behavior or simply imposed financial fines on them, in a move that raised questions in sports circles regarding UEFA’s double standards in imposing sanctions.

The Turkish Football Federation referred the defense file prepared regarding the investigation opened once morest Demiral to UEFA, and the file included many examples that football had witnessed in the past.

The “Grey Wolves” gesture made by Demiral following scoring the second goal once morest Austria in the round of 16 of “Euro 2024” sparked widespread controversy within sports and political circles, so the European Football Association decided to open an investigation into the incident, and then impose sanctions on him.

– UEFA sanctions on other players

During the Euro 2024 competition, UEFA imposed a penalty on English footballer Jude Bellingham, which was a fine of 30,000 euros and a one-match suspension, on charges of violating the rules of ethical conduct during the celebration of a goal once morest Slovakia in the competition.

The English Football Association was also fined 10,000 euros for the chaos caused by its fans, and 1,000 euros for setting off fireworks.

– Ignore the Serbian “Chetnik salute.”

The European Football Association ignored the Chetnik salute (a Yugoslav organization involved in many crimes once morest Muslims and Croats during World War II) by some Serbian players, and was content with imposing financial fines on some of them.

FIFA did not punish Serbian player Aleksandar Kolarov, who performed the Chetnik salute following scoring a goal once morest Costa Rica in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The European Football Association ignored the Serbian player Dusko Tosic’s Chetnik salute following his country’s victory over Albania 2-0 in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.

Serbian player Dusan Tadic was also not punished for performing the same salute following a 3-1 win over Montenegro in 2023.

– Fine for Putin’s photo

UEFA has fined Lokomotiv Moscow player Dmitry Tarasov €5,000 for wearing a T-shirt with a picture of President Vladimir Putin in a Europa League match once morest Turkish side Fenerbahce in 2016.

FIFA also fined two players of Albanian origin in the Swiss national team for making the “double-headed eagle” gesture following the victory over Serbia in the match held on June 22.

UEFA also ignored any sanctions once morest Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola for wearing a yellow ribbon on his chest during matches to show support for activists and politicians arrested for their political views in support of Catalonia’s independence.

Anatolia