Turkish defender Merih Demiral sparks political outrage with controversial goal celebration

Turkey is through to the Euro 2024 quarterfinals thanks to defender Merih Demiral's two goals to give his team a 2-1 victory over Austria.

The former Juventus defender has sparked outrage for his celebration after scoring his second goal of the game on the hour mark. The Turkish match-winner displayed a 'Wolf Salute' associated with Grey Wolves, a far-right extremist Group linked with Turkey's ruling party.

Picture - X @MerihDemiral

The salute is linked to the National Movement Party (MHP) and has sparked backlash on social media. Austria banned the salute in 2019, prohibiting symbols of 'extremist organizations', and Demirel could face a fine of €4,000, according to the Rudaw website.

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Austrian journalist Michael Bonvalot said on X: "He openly displays the symbol of the fascist Grey Wolves. These paramilitaries were responsible for thousands of deaths, and today they sit in the Turkish government together with [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan's AKP [Justice and Development Party]."

According to Turkiye Today, Demiral said: "I am incredibly proud to be Turkish, and I felt that pride deeply after scoring. I wanted to express that, and I'm very happy I did. Our fans are proud of us. I saw them doing the gesture in the stands, and it made me want to do it even more."

The Turkish defender took to X and posted a picture of him doing the salute with the phrase "ne mutlu Türküm diyene," which means "How happy is the one who says I am a Turk!"

Picture - X @Merihdemiral

The phrase he used on X carries a sinister meaning for minority groups in Turkey, including Armenians, Kurds, Greeks, and Assyrians.

The Rubaw website reports that a group of Turkish nationalists did the salute while attacking several Kurdish families during the Kurdish New Year in March 2024 in Belgium. At least six people were injured, and the Kurdistan flag was burned.

The 'Grey Wolves' are infamous for attacks on minorities in Turkey and abroad. In 2021, the European Parliament called for the member states to label the group a 'terror group.'

After Demiral's celebration, should he be banned from the rest of the Euro 2024 due to the terrible connotations of his celebration and what it means?

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