The leader of Turkey’s far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has called on the country’s national team to leave the Euro 2024 football tournament and return to Turkey in protest of a UEFA ban on a player due to the nationalist salute he gave following a match.
The MHP leader made his call on X on Friday shortly after UEFA announced the two-game suspension of Turkey defender Merih Demiral for giving the “grey wolf” salute following his team’s victory against Austria in German city of Leipzig on Tuesday.
UEFA’nın, Türkiye-Avusturya futbol müsabakasında attığı golden sonra Bozkurt işaretini haklı gurur ve sevinç içinde paylaşan Milli Futbolcumuz Merih Demiral’la ilgili aldığı iki maç men cezası, üstelik itiraz yolunun kapatılması tasvibi ve tahammülü imkansız skandal bir karardır.…
— Devlet Bahçeli (@dbdevletbahceli) July 5, 2024
The Grey Wolves are regarded as the militant wing of the MHP and have been banned in France and Austria but not in Germany, the host country of Euro 2024.
Demiral will miss his team’s Euro 2024 quarter-final clash with the Netherlands in Berlin on Saturday night. Should Turkey overcome the Dutch on Saturday, he will also miss the semi-final against England or Switzerland.
“If UEFA does not abandon its reckless decision, leaving the Netherlands alone on the field, the return of our national football team to Turkey would be the most suitable option for our national dignity,” Bahçeli wrote on X.
The MHP leader described the UEFA ban on Demiral as an “unacceptable scandal” that is impossible to tolerate, given the fact that the ban cannot be appealed. He said the ban on Demiral has overshadowed the Euro 2024 football tournament and that Turkey should not continue to participate in the games without UEFA reversing its decision.
According to Bahçeli, the “grey wolf” is a common Turkish value, which has its roots in history, and failing to respect it is a sign of enmity against Turks.
UEFA said in a statement on Friday 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.”
Diplomatic row
Demiral, whose two goals helped Turkey reach the last eight of a major tournament for the first time since 2008, has said his celebration was related to his “Turkish identity.”
The 26-year-old former Juventus defender, now at Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, insisted there was no “hidden message” in the salute.
Demiral posted a photo of his celebration on X with the caption “How happy is the one who says ‘I am a Turk’.”
His gesture has triggered a diplomatic row between Turkey and Euro 2024 host nation Germany, where an estimated 3 million Turks live.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser warned “the symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists have no place in our stadiums.”
The Turkish and German foreign ministries summoned each other’s ambassadors this week over the row about Demiral’s salute.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, an ally of MHP leader Bahçeli, will attend the quarter-final at the Olympiastadion in the German capital, which tens of thousands of Turks are expected to attend.
Erdoğan himself has said Demiral was just “showing his excitement,” and several ministers and the spokesman of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) have condemned Faeser’s reaction.
A statue of Demiral
Meanwhile, Tanju Özcan, the mayor of the northwestern Turkish province of Bolu, who is known for his racist and anti-refugee statements, has said he will erect a statue of Demiral in Bolu while making the “grey wolf” salute.
Condemning the UEFA ban on Demiral “strongly and hatefully” and the Turkish Football Federation for not preventing the penalty, Özcan, of the main opposition Republican People’s Party, challenged Europe, saying, “Let’s see if Europe penalizes me too!!!”
Merih Demiral’a verilen cezayı şiddetle ve nefretle kınıyorum! Bu cezayı engelleyemeyen Futbol Federasyonunu lanetliyorum. Size söz Merih Demiral’ın BOZKURT işareti yapan heykelini Bolu’ya dikeceğim! Hadi bakalım Avrupa bana da ceza yazsın bakalım!!!
— Tanju ÖZCAN (@tanjuozcanchp) July 5, 2024