UEFA hit Turkey defender Merih Demiral with a two-match suspension, immediately ruling him out of Saturday’s Euro 2024 quarter-final against Netherlands.
UEFA have hit Turkey defender Merih Demiral with a two-match suspension, meaning that he will be unavailable for Saturday’s Euro 2024 quarter-final against Netherlands.
The centre-back will also be unavailable for the semi-finals of the competition, should Turkey manage to navigate their way past the Dutch in order to set up a last-four meeting with either England or Switzerland.
Demiral scored twice for Turkey against Austria in the round of 16 to help Vincenzo Montella‘s side secure their position in the final eight of this summer’s European Championship.
The 26-year-old made history with his first in the 2-1 win, as it proved to be the quickest goal in the knockout round of the European Championship, with the effort being timed at 57 seconds.
After scoring his second, Demiral celebrated with a ‘wolf salute’, which is associated with Turkish right-wing extremist movement the ‘Grey Wolves’.
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“I had a goal celebration in mind, which I did,” said Demiral after the clash with Austria.
“I am very proud because I am a Turk, therefore after the goal I felt it deeply and I wanted to do it, and I am very happy about doing it.”
However, the Al-Ahli defender has now been hit with a two-game suspension by UEFA, meaning that he will not play again at Euro 2024 unless Turkey make the final.
UEFA said in a statement that Demiral’s punishment was in relation to “failing to comply with the general principles of conduct, 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.”
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Turkish Federation have appealed to CAS.
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