Turkiye's Demiral banned for two games for Euros salute
The Peninsula
Berlin: Turkiye s defender Merih Demiral will miss his team s Euro 2024 quarter final clash with the Netherlands after UEFA suspended him for two game...
Berlin: Turkiye's defender Merih Demiral will miss his team's Euro 2024 quarter-final clash with the Netherlands after UEFA suspended him for two games on Friday for making an alleged ultra-nationalist salute.
Demiral scored both of Turkiye's goals in the 2-1 last-16 win over Austria on Tuesday and during celebrations for his second goal made a controversial gesture.
UEFA said in a statement Demiral was banned "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."
Demiral will also miss a potential semi-final against England or Switzerland should Turkiye overcome the Netherlands on Saturday.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attend the quarter-final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin after Demiral's salute triggered a diplomatic row between Turkiye and Euro 2024 host nation Germany.
