Turkey defender Merih Demiral is under investigation by the ruling body UEFA over a controversial gesture after scoring in the Euro 2024 last 16 match against Austria.
Demiral made the wolf-salute with his fingers, a gesture associated with Turkish far-right movement Grey Wolves which is politically represented there via the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
The gesture was condemned by German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, politicians and rights groups, who called for a UEFA probe, while Turkey meanwhile hit out at the criticism and probe.
UEFA said on Wednesday it was looking into potential "inappropriate behaviour" from Demiral and that "further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course."
Potential sanctions could affect his participation in Saturday's quarter-final against the Netherlands.
Demiral attributed the gesture to his "Turkish identity" after the match and that it contained no secret message.
"I also saw people in the stadium making the gesture. We are all Turks, I am very proud to be a Turk and that is what the gesture is all about. I just wanted to demonstrate how happy and proud I am," he said.
Faeser expressed outrage on platform X, saying that "symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists have no place in our stadiums. Using the European Football Championship as a platform for racism is completely unacceptable.
"Our security authorities are keeping a close eye on Turkish right-wing extremists in Germany. The 'Grey Wolves' are under observation by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution."
In Turkey, MHP leader Devlet Bahceli named the UEFA probe "a provocation" as well as "very prejudiced and wrong." Bahceli said UEFA was joining those "who appear to be hostile towards Turks and Turkey."
The Turkish foreign ministry named the proceedings not acceptable, saying that not every person using the gesture was a right-wing extremist. It said the gesture was not forbidden in Germany and labelled the reaction from German authorities "xenophobic."
