Merih Demir's goal celebration in the round of 16 became a major political issue.
Now, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in place at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin to watch the European Championship quarterfinal against the Netherlands.
The 26-year-old Demiral became an unexpected hero in the round of 16 against Austria. His two goals took the country further to the quarterfinal against the Netherlands. But it was not the defender's goal that was in focus after the match, but rather the so-called "wolf gesture" he made after his second goal.
The gesture is linked to the Turkish far-right organization the Grey Wolves, which was behind the murder of political opponents, particularly in the 1970s. Demiral himself says that the gesture only concerns his Turkish heritage.
Turkey expert Ekim Caglar explained to TT earlier in the week:
Those who see themselves as excluded and have been affected by this form of nationalism and also remember the history when movements linked to this tradition killed dissenters think that this gesture is controversial, he said.
The European Football Association (Uefa) later chose to suspend Demiral for two matches, which led to strong reactions in Turkey.
After his second goal in Turkey's 2–1 win over Austria in the round of 16 of the European Championship on Tuesday, Turkish defender Merih Demiral formed his hands into two wolves.
A sign linked to the Turkish far-right organization the Grey Wolves. The sign is prohibited in Austria and the Grey Wolves are a prohibited organization in France.
The goal celebration has also become major politics. Germany's Foreign Minister Nancy Faeser wrote on X that "symbols of Turkish far-right extremists have no place on our arenas. Using the European Championship as a platform for racism is completely unacceptable."
Turkey's Foreign Ministry responded with a statement on its website: "The reactions shown by the German authorities towards Demiral are in themselves xenophobia."
Uefa chose to suspend Demiral for two matches. A decision that was met with criticism from Turkey.
"We condemn Uefa's unfair and biased decision, which has no legal basis but which we believe is purely political", wrote Turkey's Sports Minister Osman Askin Bak on X.
