UEFA suspends Turkey player for his actions at EURO 2024: Reports

Merih Demiral, a defender for Turkey, will be banned by UEFA for the Euro 2024 quarterfinal match against Netherlands due to his contentious "Grey Wolf" goal celebration. 

After Demiral scored a goal against Austria, he made a gesture that was heavily criticized for appearing to advocate far-right causes. After endorsing Demiral's actions, Turkey's ambassador to Germany was even called before the Foreign Office of the nation hosting Euro 2024 for a reprimand.

However, UEFA has already opened a disciplinary investigation when the former Juventus center defender was charged with FOUR offences. Additionally, it is believed that Demiral will be informed today that he will be suspended for the next TWO competitive matches in Turkey in addition to facing a possible five-figure fine.

Demiral scored both goals in Turkey's 2-1 win over Austria on Tuesday, advancing them to the quarterfinals. After scoring his second goal, he made a symbol with both hands that is linked with the Turkish ultra-nationalist organization Ulku Ocaklari, also known as the Grey Wolves.

This automatically eliminates him from tomorrow's last-eight showdown with the Dutch in Berlin. Demiral raised the index and little fingers of each hand over his head in response to the Grey Wolf symbol. Following its establishment in the 1960s, the organization faced accusations of engaging in politically motivated violence, mostly targeting communist organizations.

gesture is prohibited in some European nations

Germany's federal domestic agency keeps track of the Grey Wolves' actions. Authorities believe that it has roughly 12,100 members in the nation. It is a gesture connected with an extreme organization tied to Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party, which is a member of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's controversial ruling coalition.

The gesture is prohibited in Austria and France, but not in Germany, as an act of sympathy for terrorism. Turkish paramilitaries known as the Grey Wolves have been accused of murdering minority Kurds, Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians.