Turkish president reacts angrily to Demiral's disqualification for "radical gesture"
Liam Carter
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has responded to the suspension of national team defender Merih Demiral for making the "radical wolf salute" gesture.
"Does anyone say anything about the eagle on the German jerseys? Does anyone question the rooster on the French jerseys, asking why they have a rooster? Merih was just expressing his excitement with that gesture.
Let's leave the football field as winners on Saturday and advance to the next round of the European Championship. If nothing extraordinary happens, I plan to attend the match," Erdogan stated.
Let us remind you that UEFA suspended Demiral for his celebration in the Round of 16 match against Austria, where he scored a brace.
After his second goal, Merih made a gesture with his hands known as the "wolf salute," associated with Turkish ultra-nationalist radicals. In many countries, including Austria and Germany, it is officially recognized as a fascist gesture.
On Saturday, July 6, the Turkish national team will face the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the continental championship.
