Erdogan expected in Berlin shortly ahead of Euro quarter-final

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to arrive in Berlin shortly before Turkey's Euro 2024 quarter-final against the Netherlands later on Saturday, amid controversy around a UEFA ban on Turkish player Merih Demiral.

Erdogan will arrive in Berlin not long before the 9 pm (1900 GMT) kick-off in the Olympic Stadium, and leave the same evening, Erdogan's office told dpa.

No further appointments in Germany have so far been announced.

Erdogan has not yet commented on the UEFA two match ban on defender 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 wolf salute is attributed, among other things, to a right-wing extremist movement. The movement known as “Ülkücü” or “grey wolves” are linked to Erdogan's political allies, the ultra-nationalist MHP in Turkey.

Erdogan dismissed criticism of the gesture, saying that the player had only expressed his "enthusiasm".

UEFA's decision sparked outrage in Turkey.

Turkish broadcaster TRT described the decision as a "scandal" while the football federation head Mehhmet Büyükeksi called it "unacceptable, illegal and political".

Certain Turkish football fan groups called on fans to make the wolf salute in Berlin's Olympic Stadium.