Euro 2024 star to miss quarter-final clash as Uefa confirm two-match ban over gesture
Turkey star Demiral banned for two matches (Picture: Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
Turkey defender Merih Demiral has been handed a two-match ban for his gesture during the win over Austria – ruling him out of the quarter-finals and semi-finals at Euro 2024.
Demiral was his country’s hero as he scored twice to secure Turkey’s 2-1 win over Austria in their last 16 clash on Tuesday.
It set up a quarter-final tie against the Netherlands on Saturday which he will now miss. The 26-year-old will also miss the semi-final should Turkey reach that stage – where England or Switzerland will be waiting.
The gesture in question is associated with the Grey Wolves, a far-right extremist group closely linked to Turkey’s ruling party, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
The Grey Wolves salute is banned in Austria and is punishable by a fine of up to €4,000 (£3,390).
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