Despite scandal: statue with wolf salute erected for Turkey player!

Istanbul (Turkey) - Turkish international Merih Demiral's wolf salute during the EuropeanFootball Championship caused a major scandal, but a memorial has been dedicated to the player in his home country.

Turkish national player Merih Demiral's (26) wolf salute caused a stir during the European Football Championship.
Turkish national player Merih Demiral's (26) wolf salute caused a stir during the European Football Championship.  © Sebastian Gollnow/dpa

In the western Turkish city of Bolu, a statue of the player in the national jersey and showing the wolf salute was inaugurated, as can be seen in a video by the city's mayor on the X platform.

Demiral (26) had shown the so-called wolf salute after scoring a goal. As a result, UEFA suspended the player for two matches. The wolf salute usually expresses affiliation or sympathy with the Turkish far-right Ülkücü movement and its ideology.

In Turkey, for example, it is used by the ultra-nationalist MHP party, which is a partner of the government under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (70).

Monument to Merih Demiral inaugurated in Bolu, Turkey

The initiator of the statue is Mayor Özcan (50) himself, who is considered a nationalist and gained nationwide fame with his anti-refugee statements.

He argued in favor of the statue by saying that it was "a big lie" that the wolf salute was a symbol of the MHP and the Grey Wolves. Rather, it was a symbol of "Turkishness". Demiral had agreed to the action in advance, the mayor explained.