Recently, Turkish supporters making their way to the European Championship quarterfinal against the Netherlands were seen making a nationalistic hand gesture that has caused quite a stir. This gesture, which has been associated with Turkish nationalists and the Gray Wolves organization, was the same gesture that led to Turkey defender Merih Demiral being banned for two games by UEFA.
Berlin police had to step in when they noticed a large number of fans making this gesture during their march to the game. The police deemed it as a political demonstration rather than a football march and asked the fans to stop. Some arrests were made, although the legality of the gesture itself in Germany was not questioned.
The Turkish Football Federation and government officials were quick to denounce the suspension of Demiral, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan even altering his plans to attend the match in support of the team. Erdogan defended Demiral’s actions, arguing that the gesture was simply an expression of excitement after scoring.
Despite the ban and the police intervention, Turkish “ultras” have called for other supporters to continue making the same nationalistic hand gesture during the national anthem and throughout the game. This defiance could potentially escalate the diplomatic tensions between Turkey and Germany, the host nation of Euro 2024.
The ongoing controversy surrounding the nationalistic hand gestures being made by Turkish fans highlights the intersection of sports, politics, and nationalism. With the European Championship quarterfinals at stake, it remains to be seen how this situation will unfold and whether further actions will be taken by UEFA or other authorities to address the issue.
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