Turkey’s ambassador to Germany faced diplomatic repercussions after publicly supporting Merih Demiral’s controversial actions, which led to a stern response from the Euro 2024 host nation’s Foreign Office. UEFA had already initiated a disciplinary case against the former Juventus defender, charging him with four violations.
Demiral is expected to receive a two-match suspension today, along with a substantial fine. This penalty will immediately exclude him from Turkey’s crucial quarter-final match against the Netherlands in Berlin tomorrow.
The incident in question involved Demiral making the Grey Wolf gesture, a sign where the index and little fingers are raised. This symbol is linked to the extremist Grey Wolves group, which is associated with Turkey’s Nationalist Movement Party, a faction within President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling coalition.
While this gesture is banned in Austria and France due to its associations with terrorism, it remains legal in Germany.
The Grey Wolves have a notorious reputation, having been implicated in violent acts against minority groups such as Kurds, Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians. As Turkey prepares to face the Netherlands in the quarter-finals at the Olympiastadion Berlin, the absence of Demiral will be a significant blow.
