Turkish player Merih Demiral has been banned for two matches after performing a salute associated with the far-right Turkish movement “Grey Wolves” during the round of 16 of the European Football Championship against Austria. Demiral will miss Turkey’s quarter-final against the Netherlands on Saturday and a potential semi-final. This decision has sparked significant outrage in Turkey, and reports indicate the Turkish Football Association will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Further escalating the situation, the Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned UEFA’s ruling, alleging bias. In a statement, the ministry declared, “This decision has reinforced the assessment that the tendency towards biased behavior towards foreigners is increasing in some European countries.”
Prior to this, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz expressed on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the ban was unacceptable and needed to be rectified. “The beauty and excitement of football should not be overshadowed by political decisions,” he stated. Sports Minister Osman Askin Bak echoed this sentiment, labeling the decision “without any legal basis whatsoever and purely political.”
According to media reports, the Turkish Football Association is expediting a CAS appeal. A potential decision by the arbitration court in Lausanne could be reached as early as Friday evening.
Turkish Ultras Encouraged Fans to Perform the Wolf Salute
UEFA justified the ban, stating that Demiral “did not comply with the general principles of conduct, violated the basic rules of good behavior, used sporting events for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature and brought football into disrepute.”
The incident has escalated into a political issue since Wednesday. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser deemed the gesture unacceptable, prompting Turkey to summon the German ambassador. Germany reciprocated with a similar diplomatic action. Notably, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced his intention to visit Berlin for the match against the Netherlands.
Turkish ultras urged fans to perform the wolf salute during the Turkish national anthem before the match on Saturday. They asserted that the gesture wasn’t racist, but a symbol of Turkish identity. The influential fan group Ultraslan of Galatasaray, a traditional Turkish club, declared that they couldn’t wait “to give an answer to this meanness tomorrow as thousands of Grey Wolves in Berlin and as millions in the world”.
The hashtag #BeFairUEFA trended globally on X on Friday. Many users expressed outrage, notably contrasting Demiral’s ban with the punishment levied on Jude Bellingham. The English player was fined €30,000 and received a one-match suspended ban for an obscene gesture.
The wolf salute typically symbolizes affiliation with or support for the Turkish right-wing extremist Ülkücü movement and its ideology. The ultra-nationalist MHP, allied with President Erdogan’s Islamic-conservative AKP, is its political representation in Turkey. Demiral justified the gesture as an expression of “pride and joy,” denying the presence of any “hidden message”. The Grey Wolves are under surveillance by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Germany, and their symbols are banned in Austria.
Turkish Footballer’s Grey Wolf Salute Sparks International Controversy
Turkish football player Merih Demiral has been banned for two matches after displaying the salute of the far-right Turkish movement “Grey Wolves” during the round of 16 match against Austria at the European Football Championship. The ban will see Demiral miss Turkey’s quarter-final against the Netherlands on Saturday and any subsequent semi-final appearances.
Outrage and Legal Action
The decision has sparked significant outrage in Turkey, with widespread condemnation and accusations of prejudice levelled at UEFA. Turkish media reports indicate that the Turkish Football Association has announced plans to take the matter to the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Adding fuel to the fire, the Turkish Foreign Ministry accused UEFA of bias, stating: “This decision has reinforced the assessment that the tendency towards biased behavior towards foreigners is increasing in some European countries.”
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express his disapproval, calling the ban unacceptable and demanding it be corrected. He argued that “the beauty and excitement of football should not be overshadowed by political decisions.”
Sports Minister Osman Askin Bak echoed these sentiments, declaring the decision “without any legal basis whatsoever and purely political.”
The Turkish Football Association is reportedly seeking expedited proceedings at CAS, potentially leading to a decision as early as Friday evening.
Turkish Ultras Respond with Wolf Salute Campaign
UEFA justified its decision by stating that Demiral had “not complied with the general principles of conduct, violated the basic rules of good behaviour, used sporting events for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature and brought football into disrepute.”
The case has escalated into a major political issue since Wednesday, when German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser labelled the gesture unacceptable. Turkey retaliated by summoning the German ambassador, prompting Germany to take a similar diplomatic step.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced his visit to Berlin for the match against the Netherlands, adding further weight to the growing diplomatic tension.
Turkish ultras have called on fans to perform the wolf salute during the Turkish national anthem before the game on Saturday. They maintain that the gesture is not racist but a symbol of Turkish identity. The influential fan group Ultraslan of the traditional club Galatasaray asserted their intention to “give an answer to this meanness tomorrow as thousands of Grey Wolves in Berlin and as millions in the world.”
The hashtag #BeFairUEFA trended globally on X on Friday, with many users voicing their outrage, particularly in comparison to the punishment received by Jude Bellingham. The England international was fined €30,000 and handed a one-match suspended ban following an obscene gesture.
The Grey Wolves: A Symbol of Turkish Nationalism
The wolf salute is commonly associated with the Turkish right-wing extremist Ülkücü movement and its ideology. The ultra-nationalist MHP, a political ally of President Erdogan’s Islamic-conservative AKP, serves as its political representative in Turkey.
Demiral justified his gesture with “pride and joy” while denying any “hidden message.” In contrast, the Grey Wolves are subject to surveillance by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Germany, and their symbols are prohibited in Austria.