The German police halted a parade of Turkish fans in Berlin ahead of the Euro 2024 quarter-final match between Turkey and the Netherlands. The fans were making the 'Grey Wolves' salute, a gesture associated with an ultra-nationalist Turkish movement considered racist and anti-Semitic by the German government. The police intervened and urged the fans to cease the gesture.
Merih Demiral, a central defender for Turkey, celebrated Turkey's victory over Austria in the European Championship round of 16 with the controversial wolf salute, leading to an investigation by UEFA. The gesture has sparked widespread criticism and calls for sanctions.
The Bild newspaper reported that Demiral would be suspended for two matches, which would make him miss the quarter-final against the Netherlands and a potential semi-final. However, UEFA has yet to officially confirm this decision. The Turkish football association also stated that it had not been informed of any ban.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser condemned the use of the wolf salute, stating that symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists have no place in stadiums. The German security authorities are closely monitoring such extremist groups. Demiral defended his actions, stating that the gesture was an expression of his Turkish identity and had no hidden message.
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Turkish Nationalist Movement Party, criticized the investigation and the reactions from German authorities, labeling them as xenophobic and anti-Turkish. They argued that the gesture is not banned in Germany and does not necessarily indicate right-wing extremism.
