Because after lowering Austria by two goals, Demiral was left on the pitch with his hands in the air. There he formed wolf symbols with both hands. Der Spiegel wrote that German security services describe the hand symbol as nationalist, right-wing and extremist. The reason is that it is linked to the Turkish fundamentalist group “The Gray Wolves”. The organization has been illegal in Austria since 2019 and the gesture is prohibited there. The Danish professor Joakim Parslow told news that he did not interpret it to mean that Demiral saw this as a fascist and ultra-nationalist symbol, when he used it, CREATED FURORE: Merih Demiral during the EC. Photo: RONNY HARTMANN / AFP – A big lie! The gesture nevertheless led to the European Football Association handing him a two-match ban – to great protest from the Turkish authorities and fans. In Berlin, Turkish supporters demonstrated their displeasure with the decision by showing the wolf salute before the quarter-final against the Netherlands. THE GESTURE OF SUPPORT: Turkish supporters gathered at Breitscheidplatz in Berlin after the ban of Demiral. Photo: RALF HIRSCHBERGER / AFP Another protester was the mayor of the small northern Turkish city of Bolu, Tanju Özcan, who is now honoring Demiral with a statue in which the player makes the wolf salute. – This movement is not a symbol for National Action Party (MHP) members or idealists. It is a big lie, says Özcan, who believes the symbol has been used for hundreds of years by various Turkish groups. UNVEILED: Merih Demiral’s statue now stands in Bolu. Here, mayor Tanju Özcan shows the statue to the public for the first time. Photo: Bolu municipality – It is a symbol of Turkishness and the Turkish world. Therefore, I do not accept that it is the symbol of a party. Thanks for the statue Demiral expressed gratitude to the mayor for the statue on his Instagram account: “The statue, which is a representation of our citizens with hearts beating for the moon and the stars (the flag), is both a great honor for me and the most concrete expression for the pride of being part of my beautiful country”. He stated after the 2–1 win against Austria that he had seen supporters in the stands showing the sign after his second goal. It reminded him that he had to do the same. – I had a specific celebration in mind, and that’s the one I did. It has to do with my Turkish identity, because I am very proud to be Turkish, said Demiral. Published 04.10.2024, at 22.42 Updated 04.10.2024, at 22.55
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Merih Demiral banned for controversial gesture in EC – honored with statue in Turkey – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
