After European Championship goal: Turkish player Demiral angry with wolf salute

Turkey's Merih Demiral caused a stir with his celebratory gesture during the 2-1 win over Austria in the round of 16 of the European Championship.

After his second goal last night in Leipzig, the 26-year-old made a wolf salute with both hands, a hand gesture and symbol of the “Grey Wolves”, which is banned in Austria. On social networks, users then demanded consequences for Demiral.

“The way I celebrated has to do with my Turkish identity,” Demiral said after midnight at Leipzig’s European Championship stadium. “That’s why I made that gesture. I saw people in the stadium also making that gesture.”

Demiral hopes to get more chances to nod.

“We are all Turks, and I am very proud to be Turkish, and that is what this gesture means,” he said. “I just wanted to show how happy and proud I am.” I hope there will be more opportunities to show this gesture.

Supporters of the far-right Ulkucu movement are referred to as the “Grey Wolves.” In Turkey, the far-right Nationalist Movement Party is its political representative and coalition partner with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's conservative Islamist Justice and Development Party.

Demiral scored the fastest goal in the knockout stages of the European Championship in Leipzig after just 57 seconds and in the 59th minute. Turkey will play the Netherlands in Berlin on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals of the European Championship.