Why did UEFA ban Demiral?

On Saturday, Turkey will face the Netherlands in a high-stakes UEFA European Championship quarter-final match. However, the Turkish team will be without their star center-back Merih Demiral. UEFA has handed him a two-match ban for a controversial gesture made during Turkey’s match against Austria. This decision has stirred significant controversy and debate within the soccer community and beyond.

During the Euro 2024 knockout stage match, Demiral scored two crucial goals, leading Turkey to a 2-1 victory over Austria. However, it was his celebration after the second goal that landed him in trouble. He raised his arms and pointed his fingers in a gesture associated with the Ülkü Ocakları.

They are also known as the Grey Wolves, a far-right ultranationalist group in Turkey. The European Union considers this organization as a terrorist group. It has a history of violence against Kurdish people, as well as other ethnic minorities such as Armenians and Greeks.

Following the incident, UEFA conducted a disciplinary investigation into Demiral’s actions. According to Bild, UEFA concluded that the gesture was a breach of their regulations; they prohibit political slogans and messages both on and off the field. Consequently, Demiral was handed a two-match suspension, ruling him out of Turkey’s quarter-final against the Netherlands and potentially the semi-final should Turkey advance.

Turkey defends Demiral amid Euro 2024 ban

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) quickly responded to the reports, denying the claims made by Bild and stating that the decision was premature. The TFF emphasized that they had until the following morning to present their defense to UEFA. Despite these denials, the controversy continued to escalate, drawing comments from various political and sports figures.

Demiral’s celebration and subsequent ban have sparked significant political and public reactions. Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser condemned the gesture,…

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Author : Martina Alcheva

Publish date : 2024-07-05 15:23:11

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