Football News: Euro 2024, Champions League, and World Cup Updates
In a diplomatic exchange over football celebrations, Turkey’s ambassador to Germany, Ahmet Başar Şen, has been summoned to the foreign ministry in Berlin. This comes after the Turkish footballer Merih Demiral displayed the right-wing extremist “wolf salute” during his goal celebration at the European Championship.
The German foreign ministry urged Şen to explain the gesture and take measures to prevent its further use. This came a day after Germany’s ambassador to Turkey was summoned to the Turkish foreign ministry, as the Turkish government accused Berlin of “xenophobia” over its criticism of the symbol associated with the Grey Wolves group.
The Grey Wolves are classified as a right-wing extremist group with 18,500 to 20,000 members in Germany, making it the second-biggest right-wing extremist organization after Alternative für Deutschland. However, neither the group nor the symbol are banned in Germany, unlike in neighboring Austria and France.
Demiral’s gesture has sparked a diplomatic debate, with Germany’s interior minister, Nancy Faeser, condemning the use of the football championships as a platform for racism. Faeser called on UEFA to investigate and consider imposing sanctions on the Turkish team.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has adjusted his travel plans to attend the national team’s quarter-final against the Netherlands on Saturday evening. This move is reportedly in reaction to the fallout from the Demiral salute, with Erdoğan wanting to show his support for the team.
The wolf salute is the symbol and identifying logo of the Grey Wolves, representing the head of a wolf. Experts in extremism say the worldview of the Grey Wolves is hardline nationalist and Islamist, with hatred shown towards various groups.
As the football world continues to captivate audiences, the diplomatic tensions surrounding the European Championship’s celebrations have once again highlighted the broader sociopolitical complexities that can intersect with the sport.
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