Berlin police stop Turkey fan march due to wolf salute

Berlin police have stopped a Turkey fan march before the Euro 2024 quarter-final against the Netherlands because many supporters gave the controversial wolf salute.

A fan march is "not a platform for political messages," the police announced on X.

The furore started when Turkey defender Merih Demiral received a two-match ban from tournament organizer UEFA for giving the gesture - which critics see as a far-right symbol - after his second goal in the last-16 win over Austria.

The wolf salute usually expresses affiliation with the Turkish far-right Ülkücü movement. It is said to be a symbol against ethnic minorities in and around Turkey but Turkish politicians and football officials say it is just a sign of "Turkishness" and the ban is disgraceful.

The wolf gesture is used in Turkey by the ultra-nationalist MHP party, which is a partner of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government. Erdogan is due in Berlin for the match and ultra fans have called on Turks to repeat the salute during the match at Berlin's Olympiastadion.