Demih Demiral of Turkey’s national team has been suspended for offensive behavior

Turkey’s center-back, Demih Demiral, has been suspended by UEFA for the next two matches at EURO 2024 following a controversial goal celebration in their recent 2-1 victory over Austria.

Demih Demiral was the hero for Turkey in their 2-1 win against Austria in the Round of 16 at EURO 2024. He scored both goals and provided solid defense for his team, especially in the absence of key players midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu and center-back Akaydin.

However, Demih Demiral will now be sidelined due to his inappropriate goal celebration. Specifically, the 1998-born defender received a two-match suspension from UEFA after celebrating by raising both hands to the sky, with his thumbs and two middle fingers touching. This gesture is associated with the Grey Wolves, a nationalist extremist group in Turkey.

According to the tournament’s regulations, any actions or messages related to politics are strictly prohibited. This is why UEFA has penalized Demiral. Previously, in his post-match comments, Demiral stated that there was no hidden message in his celebration: “My way of celebrating is related to my Turkish identity. I am very proud to be Turkish, and that’s the meaning behind the gesture. I just wanted to show how happy and proud I am.”

As a result, Demih Demiral can only return to play if Turkey reaches the EURO 2024 final. Turkey is scheduled to face the Netherlands in the quarter-finals at 2:00 AM on July 7. If they win, they will then face the winner of the England vs. Switzerland match in the semi-finals.

The good news for Turkey is the return of midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu and center-back Akaydin from suspension. Therefore, coach Vincenzo Montella will not have to worry too much about defensive personnel. The likely starting center-back pair for Turkey in the upcoming match will be Abdülkerim Bardakci and Samet Akaydin.