Turkish national team defender Merih Demiral has been slapped with a two-game suspension by UEFA following his controversial goal celebration during Turkey’s Euro 2024 Round of 16 victory over Austria. Demiral was seen making a hand gesture associated with an ultra-nationalist group, a salute that is banned in Austria and France.
The defender claimed that the celebration was pre-planned in case he scored, but his actions have been deemed inappropriate by UEFA, resulting in the two-match ban. As a result, Demiral will miss Turkey’s Euro 2024 quarter-final clash against the Netherlands on Saturday, as well as a potential semi-final match should Turkey progress.
Demiral said the salute, which is banned in Austria and France, was pre-planned in case he scored in the last-16 tie.
He was charged by Uefa – European football’s governing body – for failing to comply with general principles of conduct, for violating the basic rules of decent conduct, for using sports events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and for bringing the sport of football into disrepute.
Jude Bellingham is free to play in England’s quarter-final against Switzerland on Saturday after making a crotch-grabbing gesture as he celebrated scoring in the last-16 win over Slovakia.
The Real Madrid midfielder, 21, has been given a one-match – suspended for a year – and has also been fined £25,400 (30,000 Euros).
