Euro 2024: Turkey summons German ambassador to protest criticism of Demiral’s goal celebration
The HinduA controversial gesture made by Turkey player Merih Demiral at soccer’s European Championship has ignited a diplomatic brouhaha between the country and host nation Germany. Turkey summoned the German ambassador on Wednesday to protest German interior minister Nancy Faeser’s condemnation of Demiral’s goal celebration the night before, when the player displayed a hand sign associated with an ultra-nationalist group. Federal minister Cem Özdemir, a German politician of Turkish descent, said Demiral’s gesture is “extreme right” and “stands for terror, fascism.” UEFA said it was investigating Demiral’s “alleged inappropriate behavior.” The soccer body did not outline when the case might conclude. The spokesman for Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s party, Omer Celik, said Faeser’s comments and UEFA’s investigation are “unacceptable.” “It would be more appropriate for those looking for racism and fascism to focus on the recent election results in different European countries,” Celik wrote on X. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the investigation as a politically motivated reaction “to the use of a historical and cultural symbol” during the goal celebration. It’s quite normal.” Demiral said he hoped he’d get “more opportunities to do the same gesture again.”
History of this topic
Euro 2024: Turkey proud to show its spirit, says coach Montella after 2-1 loss to Netherlands in quarterfinal
The HinduEuro 2024: Diplomatic row overshadowing Turkey quarterfinal against Netherlands
Associated PressUEFA suspends Turkey player Demiral for 2 games for making nationalistic gesture at Euro 2024
Associated Press
Turkey summons German ambassador to protest criticism of Demiral's goal celebration at Euro 2024
The IndependentTurkey summons German ambassador to protest criticism of Demiral’s goal celebration at Euro 2024
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