Know the meaning of Merih Demiral’s ‘wolf’ celebration as reports surfaced indicating that Turkey’s goalscorer from their last-16 win over Austria, could face a ban from their quarter-final against the Netherlands on Saturday as UEFA opened an investigation against him
For the unversed, Demiral scored both goals against Austria, advancing Turkey to the Euro 2024 quarterfinals. UEFA has now opened an investigation into a celebration gesture he made, which is linked to a far-right Turkish group.
Merih Demiral’s wolf celebration meaning explained as he pulls it out during Turkey vs Austria Euro 2024 match
The Euro 2024 tournament organizer, UEFA, announced on Wednesday that it is investigating Turkish national football player Merih Demiral for “inappropriate behavior” during his team’s knockout game against Austria in Leipzig.
Meaning of Merih Demiral’s Wolf Celebration
After scoring a goal on Tuesday evening, the 26-year-old defender made the so-called wolf salute that is a symbol of Turkey’s far-right “Gray Wolves” with both hands.
Demiral put his team ahead less than a minute into the match and scored a second goal just before the hour mark.
After netting the second, he made the gesture, with his index and little finger raised that is associated with the violent ultra-nationalist organization.
🇹🇷 Ne mutlu Türküm diyene! pic.twitter.com/4K3kVPFxgW
— Merih Demiral (@Merihdemiral) July 2, 2024
Demiral defended his controversial celebration, stating it was merely an expression of national pride.
What Did Merih Demiral Say?
“The way I celebrated has something to do with my Turkish identity,” said Demiral at the post-match press conference. “That’s why I made this gesture.”
Named player of the match, Demiral noted that he had seen people in the stadium making the same gesture.
“There was no hidden message behind it,” Demiral insisted. The player expressed hope for ”even more opportunities to show this gesture.” The team faces the Netherlands in Berlin on Saturday.
Meaning of Wolf Gesture
The paramilitary Gray Wolves group targets non-Turkish ethnic minorities such as Kurds, Greeks, and Armenians and is often involved in violent clashes with Kurdish and leftist activists.
The group was established in the late 1960s and became prominent amid political violence in the late 1970s.
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
Ahead of the round of 16 match, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) called on UEFA not to tolerate the wolf salute in stadiums, noting that some Turkish fans had displayed it in previous games.
Following the pictures of Merih Demiral went viral on social media celebrating using Wolf gesture, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser condemned Demiral’s goal celebration and urged UEFA to take action.
In response, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador to Ankara to protest Berlin’s condemnation of Demiral.
UEFA’s options include a ban or a fine for Merih Demiral with numerous reports indicating possibility of a ban.
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