Euro 2024: Turkey hero against Austria Demiral faces potential ban over goal celebration

Merih Demiral who was a standout performer in Turkey’s 2-1 win over Austria, now faces a potential ban due to his goal celebration.

The former Juventus and current Al-Ahli center back scored twice and defended strongly for his side, but his post-goal actions have drawn controversy, reports talkSPORT.

After scoring, Demiral appeared to make a wolf gesture with both hands, a symbol associated with the far-right ultra-nationalist ‘Grey Wolves’ group, which is reportedly banned in France and Austria.

Although the gesture is not banned in Germany, where the match took place, UEFA has launched an investigation.

The governing body has previously demonstrated zero tolerance for political expressions during the tournament.

Demiral defended his actions, stating, “The way I celebrated has something to do with my Turkish identity. I saw people in the stadium who also made this gesture.”

talkSPORT also reported that the Society for Threatened Peoples, an international human rights organization, condemned the gesture, especially on the anniversary of the 1993 Sivas massacre.

They demanded an apology from Demiral and urged the Turkish national team to distance itself from right-wing extremist symbols.

Meanwhile, Right-wing politics is the range of political ideologies that view certain social orders and hierarchies as inevitable.

They claim these social orders are natural, normal, or desirable, typically supporting this position based on natural law, economics, authority, property, religion, biology, or tradition.