Grey Wolves’ greeting puts a Turkish player under investigation

UEFA has launched an investigation into “alleged misconduct” by Turkish footballer Melih Demiral after he celebrated a Euro 2024 goal with a gesture linked to an ultra-nationalist group that emerged in the 1960s. The group is accused of taking part in politically motivated violence, much of it against left-wing groups.

Demiral scored twice in a 2-1 win over Austria on Tuesday to reach the quarterfinals. After scoring the second goal, he made a gesture with his hands that is associated with the Turkish ultranationalist group Ulku Ocaklari, commonly known as the Grey Wolves.

UEFA confirmed on Wednesday that it had appointed an inspector to investigate Demiral but did not specify when the case would be concluded. Turkey’s next match is against the Netherlands in Berlin on Saturday.

Demiral was previously one of 16 Turkish players reprimanded in 2019 for giving a military salute during a match during Turkey’s military offensive in Syria.

The Grey Wolves are the youth wing of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MNP), which is currently allied with the ruling Justice and Development Party led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In the decades after its founding in the 1960s, the group was accused of engaging in politically motivated violence, mainly against left-wing groups. France has banned the Grey Wolf salute, and Austria has also banned its use, which is widely used by Turkish nationalists.