By Elizabeth Ogunsola
Turkey’s defender Merih Demiral makes a controversial hand gesture as he celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA euro 2024 round of 16 football match between Austria and Turkey at Leipzig stadium in Leipzig on the second of July, 2024.
Merih will miss his team Euro 2024 quarter final clash with the Netherlands after UEFA suspended him for two games on the fifth of July 2024, for making an alleged ultra nationalist salute gesture at Euro 2024, that rules him out quarter final against the Netherlands
Demiral scored a 2-1 last 16 win over on July 2, 2024. During the celebration of his second goal, made a gesture associated with Turkish right-wing extremist group, Grey Wolves. UEFA made a statement that Demiral was banned for violating the basic rules of decent conduct for using sport events for a non- sporting nature and for not bringing the sport of football into dishonor.