The exultation of Merih Demiral after the goal that temporarily made it 2-0 in the match against Austria, the Turkish defender risks being costly. UEFA has announced that it has opened an investigation into the behaviour of the Al Ahli player: “In relation to the 2024 UEFA European Championship Round of 16 match between Austria and Turkey, played on 2 July 2024 in Leipzig, Germany, an investigation has been opened under Article 31(4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations in relation to the alleged inappropriate behaviour of the Turkish Football Federation player, Merih Demiral.
Further information on this topic will be made available in due course.”
The salute – Demiral had celebrated his second goal against Austria with the ultra-nationalist salute of the “Grey Wolves”. The German authorities consider the ideology of this extremist movement (which is under the supervision of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution) as “anti-Semitic and racist”.
UEFA have opened an investigation against Turkey’s Merih Demiral after he celebrated his second goal vs. Austria with the ultranationalist Grey Wolves salute.
German authorities characterize the group’s ideology as nationalist-extremist, anti-Semitic and racist.#Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/gwVHjABPA7
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) July 3, 2024