Turkey defender Merih Demiral has been suspended for two games by UEFA after he celebrated a goal in his team’s round-of-16 win over Austria by displaying a hand sign associated with an ultranationalist group.
UEFA confirmed that Demiral had been banned “for failing to comply with the general principles of conduct, 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.”
The defender scored both goals in Turkey’s 2-1 victory, but will now miss his team’s quarterfinal match against the Netherlands on Saturday. If Turkey advance, he would also miss the semifinal.
Demiral’s celebration involved making a sign with each hand that is linked to the Turkish ultranationalist organization Ulku Ocaklari, also known as the Gray Wolves. This group has been banned in France, and the use of the Gray Wolf salute is prohibited in Austria.
The incident has caused political tensions, with Germany’s interior minister condemning the use of “symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists” in stadiums. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has defended Demiral’s gesture as a normal expression of patriotic pride, and the country’s vice president has called for the ban to be rescinded.
However, UEFA has stood firm on its decision, stating that Demiral’s actions violated the basic rules of decent conduct and brought the sport of football into disrepute. The suspension is a clear message that UEFA will not tolerate the use of sports events for political or extremist purposes.
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