Erdogan to head to Germany for Turkiye’s Euro 2024 match after UEFA investigation

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has decided to cancel his diplomatic engagement to attend the Türkiye-Netherlands match in support of Merih Demiral. This decision follows UEFA’s decision to investigate Demiral.

In the Euro 2024 tournament held in Germany, Türkiye faced Austria on July 2. Demiral emerged as the standout player by scoring two goals in Türkiye’s 2-1 victory, propelling them into the quarterfinals of the competition.

Demiral’s celebration with the “wolf salute” gesture after the match stirred controversy. “There is no particular message. I have no regrets,” the player said.

However, the gesture drew criticism, with the German Interior Minister tweeting, “Symbols of far-right Turks have no place in our stadiums.”

In response, UEFA launched an investigation into the incident. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the German ambassador, stating “UEFA’s stance is unacceptable.”

Erdogan to travel to Germany

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has altered his plans amid current developments. Originally scheduled to attend the summit of the Turkic States Organization in Shusha, Azerbaijan on July 6, President Erdogan has opted to cancel his attendance.

He will instead be traveling to Germany to support the Turkish national football team as they face the Netherlands in an upcoming match. This move underscores Erdogan’s commitment to national sporting events amid ongoing diplomatic and regional engagements.