UFFA Bans Turkey’s Merih Demiral, Fines Bellingham For Misconduct In Euro 2024

The European football governing body, UEFA, has slammed a two-match ban on Turkey defender Merih Demiral for making an offensive celebration during the ongoing Euro 2024.

During the Euro 2024 round of 16 clash between Turkey and Austria on July 2, 2024, Merih Demiral decided to use an ultra-nationalist salute to celebrate his goal after scoring his second goal in the game that ended 2-1 in four of the Turkish side.

Following the game, UEFA opened an investigation against the 26-year-old Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli centre-back for making the ‘wolf salute’.

The ‘wolf salute’ which is also known as the grey wolf gesture was used by early Göktürks as a sign of victory. Political usage of the gesture was popularized in the 1990s by Alparslan Türkeş, the founder of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

Due to the political sentiment associated with the gesture, UEFA had to take action against Merih Demiral. Earlier today, the football body confirmed that the forward has been banned for two games.

This means that Demiral who has been one of the team’s best players at the European Championship won’t be available for the team’s Euro 2024 quarter-final against the Netherlands at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 6.

While UEFA deemed Demiral’s celebration too offensive, the football body didn’t deem that of England’s Jude Bellingham offensive enough to warrant an immediate ban.

Recall that UEFA charged the 21-year-old Real Madrid forward for misconduct (making a crotch-grabbing gesture as he celebrated scoring in the last-16 win over Slovakia).

Unlike in the case against Demiral, UEFA decided to slam a one-match suspension ban for a year on Bellingham. He was also fined 30,000 Euros for the same offence.

This means that the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder is eligible to play against Switzerland at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 6.