Two-match ban for Turkey’s Demiral over ultra-nationalist salute

Turkey defender Merih Demiral has been given a two-match ban for making an ultra-nationalist salute during his country’s Euro 2024 win against Austria.

Demiral, 26, scored both Turkey’s goals as they beat Austria 2-1 to earn a quarter-final spot against the Netherlands on Saturday.

The Al-Ahli defender celebrated his second goal with a ‘wolf salute’, a gesture associated with the far-right extremist group Grey Wolves that is linked with Turkey’s ruling coalition party the National Movement Party.

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).