Turkey denounced on Wednesday the “unacceptable” disciplinary proceeding by UEFA, European football’s governing body, against Turkish National Team footballer Merih Demiral for making a gesture with political connotations while celebrating the goal he scored.
“We condemn the politically motivated reactions to the use of a historical and cultural symbol during the celebration of joy at a sporting event that does not target anyone,” it added, referring to what is known as the Grey Wolves sign in Turkey.
The Foreign Ministry cited a report by the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in September 2023 that said not every person who makes the Grey Wolves sign can be described as a right-wing extremist.
It said reactions by German authorities to Demiral entail “xenophobia,” stressing that the sign is not outlawed in Germany.
Germany’s ambassador to Ankara has been summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry regarding German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser’s request for sanctions from UEFA, said diplomatic sources.
Faeser targeted Demiral’s goal celebration and asked UEFA for sanctions.
UEFA said that it had launched an investigation regarding the Grey Wolves sign by Demiral during a EURO 2024 match on Tuesday between Austria and Turkey.