Turkish president Erdogan announces last-minute trip to support national team amid fury over player's 'wolf salute' goal celebration
- Erdogan was set to be in Azerbaijan this weekend but will instead head for Berlin
Turkey's president has cleared his diplomatic schedule to watch the national team in their Euro 2024 quarterfinal clash in Germany after a player's controversial gesture ignited a diplomatic row between Ankara and Berlin.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan was set to be in Azerbaijan this weekend but will instead head for the German capital on Saturday to witness the Turkish team take on the Netherlands for a semi-final spot.
The move is seen as a strong signal of support for Merih Demiral, who scored both of Turkey's goals in a 2-1 win over Austria in the round of 16 before making a hand gesture associated with an ultra-nationalist group.
Demiral is accused of performing a 'Wolf's Salute', an act associated with the Grey Wolves - the youth movement of Turkey's ultra-right Nationalist Movement Party that also happens to be in coalition with Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party.
German interior minister Nancy Faeser hit out at Demiral after the match, declaring that the symbol 'of Turkish right-wing extremists' has no place in German stadiums - but this prompted Ankara to summon the German ambassador in protest.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has cleared his diplomatic schedule to watch the national team in their Euro 2024 quarterfinal clash in Germany
Merih Demiral of Turkey celebrates after scoring his second goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 Round of 16 soccer match between Austria and Turkey
Demiral scored both Turkey's goals in their 2-1 victory against Austria in the Euro 2024 last-16
A participant standing among Turkey supporters waves the flag of the Grey Wolves prior to the UEFA Euro 2024 round of 16 football match between Austria and Turkey
Erdogan's decision to abandon his trip to Azerbaijan to support Demiral and the rest of the Turkish side on Saturday was confirmed by government officials this afternoon.
It comes as Erdogan concludes a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Kazakhstan where he conducted meetings with various Eurasian leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Vice-President Cevdet Yilmaz will take Erdogan's place in Azerbaijan, said one official speaking on condition of anonymity, while the Turkish President enjoys the spectacle in Berlin.
The diplomatic bust-up over Demiral's conduct was exacerbated when Faeser urged UEFA to punish the player for making the gesture, drawing a strong reaction from Turkish officials.
'Using the European Football Championship as a platform for racism is completely unacceptable,' she wrote.
But Turkey's Foreign Ministry denounced the investigation, labelling it as a politically motivated response 'to the use of a historical and cultural symbol.'
Demiral himself said: 'I had a specific celebration in mind, something connected to my Turkish identity.
'I am incredibly proud to be Turkish, and I felt that pride deeply after scoring,' he said.
The Grey Wolves group, officially called Ulku Ocaklari in Turkish, was founded as the youth wing of Turkey's far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) which is allied with Erdogan's AKP.
Its members claim the group is a cultural movement dedicated to the education of young people and preservation of Turkish identity, but the Grey Wolves has a chequered past of violence, particularly against minorities such as ethnic Kurds and Armenians.
It also has a series of splinter groups spread throughout Europe.
Turkey defender Merih Demiral is under investigation by UEFA and could face a suspension for allegedly performing a gesture linked to far-right extremist group Grey Wolves
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) shake hands as they pose for photos during their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, in Astana, Kazakhstan, 03 July 2024
The diplomatic bust-up over Demiral's conduct was exacerbated when Faeser urged UEFA to punish the player for making the gesture, drawing a strong reaction from Turkish officials
Nancy Faeser, Germany's Minister of Interior and Home Affairs, hit out at Demiral's celebration
The group has been banned in France and Azerbaijan, while Austria has banned the use of the Grey Wolf salute.
It is not banned in Germany, but the country's federal domestic security agency actively monitors the Grey Wolves' activities.
UEFA said it was investigating Demiral's 'alleged inappropriate behaviour', but did not outline when the case might conclude, nor what punishment he may face if found to have committed an offence.
UEFA's Safety and Security regulations state 'the promotion or announcement or political messages or other political actions inside or in the immediate vicinity of the stadium is strictly prohibited before, during and after' matches.
MailOnline has contacted UEFA and the Turkish FA for comment.
