Merih Demiral scored early in the match, marking the second-fastest goal in the championships’ history. However, an investigation by UEFA is now underway regarding his celebration after scoring his second goal against Austria during Turkey’s Euro 2024 victory.
Officials are scrutinizing whether Demiral made a political gesture, potentially associated with the Turkish nationalist movement, by making a ‘wolf’s salute’ with each hand. UEFA has appointed an ethics and disciplinary investigator to look into these allegations of inappropriate behavior under Article 31(4) of its regulations.
Despite the controversy, Demiral’s two goals secured Turkey a 2-1 win over Austria, advancing them to the quarter-finals against the Netherlands. The match saw additional controversy when plastic beer cups were thrown onto the pitch, targeting players such as Arda Guler and Austria’s Marcel Sabitzer.
