Turkey dismiss report on ban for Euro player Demiral over gesture

Turkey has dismissed a German news report that their national team midfielder Merih Demiral has been banned for two matches after making a controversial gesture in the Euro 2024 last 16 match against Austria.

Germany paper Bild reported that the ruling body UEFA had banned defender Demiral for Saturday's quarter-final against the Netherlands and another match, potentially the semi-final.

The Turkish FA dismissed the report, saying they had until Friday morning to submit their view. Turkey's information ministry also said the report of the ban was not true.

UEFA has not commented or released a final decision on the matter, after saying on Wednesday they were investigating potential "inappropriate behaviour" from Demiral.

Demiral mimicked with his fingers the shape of a wolf's head after his second goal in a 2-1 victory over Austria in the round of 16 on Tuesday.

The controversial gesture is attributed, among other things, to a right-wing extremist movement. The movement known as “Ülkücü” or “grey wolves” are linked to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's political allies, the ultra-nationalist MHP in Turkey.

The gesture often expresses sympathizing with the grey wolf ideology.

Presidential sources told dpa said that Erdogan was set to attend the quarter-final in Berlin in what local media said was an effort to show solidarity with the national team in person.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faden (SPD), among others, criticized the player sharply. The movement is closely monitored in Germany.

Turkey summoned the German ambassador on Wednesday in protest of the sharp reactions.

Demiral said after the Austria game that he only wanted to express that he was proud to be Turkish and that there was no hidden message behind it.

Most recently, the wolf salute in Turkey was also used by parts of the opposition to appeal to rising nationalism.

Political statements and gestures are not permitted at UEFA matches. UEFA had earlier at the Euros banned Albanian player Mirlind Daku for two matches after he chanted nationalistic slogans together with fans.