Merih Demir's goal celebration in the round of 16 became high politics. Now, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in place at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin to watch the European Championship quarterfinal against the Netherlands.
SportsMerih Demiral is banned for two matches after making the controversial "wolf gesture" during the European Championship in Germany. The centre-back will therefore miss Turkey's quarter-final against the Netherlands in Berlin – a meeting seen as a high-risk match by the police. The ban is being criticized by Turkish government politicians.
SportsWith his fingers, Turkey's goal hero formed two wolves and the European Championship in Germany was transformed into high politics. The gesture has a connection to a right-wing extremist movement with a bloody history. The attempts to depoliticize the symbol are based on hollow arguments, says Turkey expert Ekim Caglar.
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