Türkiye formally condemns UEFA fine against Merih Demiral: Foreign ministry

Merih Demiral, who made the “Bozkurt” sign during the last Euro 2024 Round 16 match, was given a 2-game ban by UEFA. Reacting to the punishment given by interpreting a symbol of Turkishness as a political message, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the decision.

“We regret the two-match ban from competitions imposed by UEFA on our National Football Team player Merih Demiral,” the ministry said in a statement.

Reminding that international sports competitions are organized to bring societies and countries closer together, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “This decision, which has caused deep disappointment among all our citizens at home and abroad, has strengthened the evaluations that the tendency to prejudice against foreigners is increasing in some European countries.”