Germany called in Turkey’s ambassador in Berlin on Thursday as part of an escalating diplomatic dispute triggered by Turkish footballer Merih Demiral’s alleged ultra-nationalist gesture during his team’s victory over Austria at Euro 2024.
“The Turkish ambassador was summoned this morning,” stated the German foreign ministry in a message to AFP, a day after Turkey did the same with the German envoy in Ankara.
After scoring his second goal in Turkey’s 2-1 win against Austria on Tuesday, Demiral made a gesture linked to the Turkish ultra-nationalist group, Grey Wolves.
UEFA has initiated an investigation into “inappropriate behaviour,” which has led to criticism from German leaders. In response, Ankara accused Berlin of “xenophobia.”
Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser asserted that “the symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists have no place in our stadiums,” adding that “using the European football championships as a platform for racism is completely unacceptable.”
The Grey Wolves, a far-right nationalist organization in Turkey, are known for their extremist views and actions.
The group’s symbols and gestures are often associated with Turkish ultra-nationalism and have been banned in several European countries due to their extremist nature.
Diplomatic tensions between Germany and Turkey have flared in the past, often linked to issues of national identity, migration, and political differences.
Incidents involving sports figures and political gestures can quickly become flashpoints in these already sensitive relations.
The current incident adds to a series of diplomatic spats, highlighting the fragile nature of German-Turkish relations, especially in the context of a high-profile international event like Euro 2024.
