UEFA Investigates Turkish Soccer Player Merih Demiral for Alleged Far-Right Gesture Celebrations at Euro 2024

UEFA has initiated an investigation into the actions of Turkey‘s football star, Merih Demiral, following his goal celebrations during the ongoing Euro 2024 tournament.

Demiral, who scored twice in the recent match against Austria, is under scrutiny for making hand gestures associated with the far-right nationalist group known as the Gray Wolves.

After scoring his second goal, Demiral displayed a sign with both hands that represents Turkish nationalists, sparking this investigation by UEFA.

In response, Demiral defended his actions, claiming the gestures were a display of national pride with no hidden messages intended.

German interior minister, Nancy Faeser, called for consequences, labeling the gesture as inappropriate and racially charged, urging UEFA to take action.

Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan‘s party representative, Omer Celik, criticized Faeser’s remarks and the investigation, calling them unacceptable in a public statement.

Furthermore, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, Devlet Bahceli, denounced UEFA’s actions as biased and incorrect, advocating for a focus on the game rather than off-field controversies.

Notably, this is not the first time Demiral has been involved in a contentious celebration, having previously faced sanctions for military-style salutes in 2019.

The Gray Wolves, the group in question, have a controversial history and are closely linked to Turkey’s political landscape.

With UEFA’s investigation ongoing, Turkey’s upcoming match against the Netherlands hangs in the balance as the football world awaits the outcome of this inquiry.

Germany and Austria, countries with strict regulations on the Gray Wolves, have also expressed concerns over the incident.