Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife Emine attended Turkey’s European Championship match at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.
Following the elimination of the Turkish national team by Europe Football Championship, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan leveled severe criticism against UEFA for suspending Merih Demiral from playing after making controversial wolf gesture.
Erdogan criticised UEFA for two-match ban imposed on Demiral while returning from a short visit to Berlin where he watched the Euro championship quarter final between Turkey and Netherlands (1:2). Quoting Anadolu news agency, Erdogan said on board as reported by state news agency Anadolu “To be honest, the UEFA ban on Merih (Demiral) for two matches has cast a heavy shadow over the championship. That is inexplicable; it is a purely political decision.” The 70-year old leader maintained that this ruling was not based on sporting principles but political bias.
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Critics may notice that during talks with media representatives, Erdogan stressed that this sanction was aimed at Turkey more than specifically targeting defender Demiral who made the controversial wolf salute during Austria (2:1) game. According to him “It’s actually punishment for Turkey as a nation.” Nevertheless, he praised how well Turkish national side reacted to what they saw as injustice and their performance inside pitch. “Our national team reacted to the injustice done to them with spectacular football on,” he said.
Erdogan in the Players’ Locker Room
Before departing Berlin, Erdogan visited the Turkish players in their locker room, where he offered words of consolation and encouragement following their quarter-final exit. “Congratulations everyone! This result we got here today does not make us less champions,” said Erdogan to his fellow countrymen. Additionally, TV cameras caught president greeting personally suspended Demiral.
Leipzig Sighs at 26-Year-Old’s Wolf Salute
“The event in Leipzig created a controversy because of the political nature it holds with Turk right wing extremist Ülkücü movement and its ideology” [1, p.2] The gesture is often used by the ultra-nationalist MHP party that is Erdogan’s government coalition partner to express affiliation or sympathy with their views.