UEFA bans Turkey’s Demiral for two games for making nationalistic gesture at EURO 2024
Demiral’s double helped Turkey reach the last eight of a major tournament for the first time since 2008.
BERLIN: Turkey defender Merih Demiral will miss his team’s Euro 2024 quarter-final clash with the Netherlands after UEFA suspended him for two games on Friday for making an alleged ultra-nationalist salute.
Demiral scored both of Turkey’s goals in the 2-1 last-16 win over Austria on Tuesday and during celebrations for his second goal made a gesture associated with Turkish right-wing extremist group Grey Wolves.
UEFA said in a statement that Demiral was banned “for violating the basic rules of decent conduct, for using sports events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and for bringing the sport of football into disrepute.”
Demiral will also miss a potential semi-final against England or Switzerland should Turkey overcome the Netherlands on Saturday.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attend the quarter-final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin after Demiral’s salute triggered a diplomatic row between Turkey and Euro 2024 host nation Germany.
Turkey summoned the German ambassador on Wednesday over politicians’ reactions to Demiral’s celebration.
Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser warned “the symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists have no place in our stadiums”.
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