Turkiye fans told to avoid ‘grey wolf’ gesture as player banned

German police urged Turkiye’s fans to refrain from displaying the contentious “grey wolf” gesture during the Euro 2024 quarter-final match against the Netherlands, following a report by Deutsche Welle yesterday.

The call came after Turkiye’s player, Merih Demiral, was banned for two games for making the sign, linked to Turkiye’s far-right, during celebrations after Turkiye’s win over Austria. The German police union (GdP) expressed concerns over the potential presence of extremist symbols at the match.

Thousands of Turkish fans making the Grey Wolf sign ahead of the game with the Netherlands tonight 🐺🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/AnDWJCtDvy

— 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 (@thecasualultra) July 6, 2024

GdP chief Jochen Kopelke from Bremen emphasised that “politics has no place on the football field” and highlighted the importance of maintaining a fair and peaceful match. He warned that the use of extremist symbols would pose significant law enforcement challenges and suggested considering a full ban on the grey wolf sign.

The grey wolves are seen as the militant wing of Turkiye’s far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and have been banned in France and Austria, though not in Germany which has a significant Turkish community, estimated to be around 3 million. They are notorious for attacks on leftists and ethnic minorities such as Kurds, Armenians, and Greeks.

READ: Turkiye summons Germany ambassador in protest against reactions to football player’s ‘Grey Wolves’ hand gesture

Demiral’s ban meant he missed the fixture against the Netherlands, which Turkiye went onto lose 2-1 and their place in the semi-finals in the presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who was in attendance. Ahead of the match, Berlin police halted a march of Turkish fans displaying the gesture and chanting anti-refugee slogans.

There is no difference between Weghorst, who makes a lion's paw gesture in reference to the lion, the symbol of the Netherlands, and Merih Demiral, who makes the Grey Wolf gesture, a symbol of Turkishness.#euro2024 #merihdemiral #Turkije #UEFA pic.twitter.com/Jb0Prkzrfj

— de Jonge Turken (@deJongeTurken) July 4, 2024

UEFA stated that Demiral’s actions failed “to comply with the general principles of conduct” and brought football “into disrepute.” However, Demiral defended his gesture, claiming it was meant to express pride in being Turkish.

The incident has sparked a diplomatic row between Ankara and Berlin, who summoned each other’s ambassadors. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser stated that “the symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists have no place in our stadiums.”

READ: Turkiye calls for unity, cooperation among Turkic nations at Shusha Summit