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GERMANY AND TURKEY

Erdogan to attend Euro 2024 match in Berlin as diplomatic row spirals

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be in Germany for his country's Euro 2024 quarter-final on Saturday, the presidency told AFP, as Ankara and Berlin trade barbs over a Turkish footballer's celebratory gesture.

Published: 4 July 2024 13:18 CEST
Turkish footballer Merih Demiral
Turkish footballer Merih Demiral celebrates after scoring his second goal against Austria. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Hendrik Schmidt

Germany summoned Turkey’s ambassador in Berlin on Thursday morning amid a spiralling diplomatic row which erupted after Turkish footballer Merih Demiral made an alleged ultra-nationalist hand sign during his team’s win over Austria.

In a tweet announcing the move the German foreign ministry said that “as the host of Euro 2024 we want sport to bring people together”.

A day earlier Turkey had summoned the German envoy in Ankara.

After scoring his second goal in Turkey’s 2-1 victory over Austria on Tuesday Demiral made a gesture associated with Turkish ultra-nationalist group Grey Wolves.

His action prompted UEFA to launch a probe for “inappropriate behaviour”, and sparked condemnation from German leaders, but Ankara immediately branded Berlin’s reaction as “xenophobia”.

READ ALSO: Belief returns for Kroos and Germany before Euro 2024 Spain showdown

Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser warned “the symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists have no place in our stadiums” and said that “using the European football championships as a platform for racism is completely unacceptable”.

While Erdogan himself has not yet weighed in on the row directly, several ministers and the spokesman of his ruling AKP party have condemned Faeser’s reaction.

Accusing German authorities of “xenophobia”, Turkey’s foreign ministry pointed out that Germany’s domestic intelligence service had emphasised in its report “not every person making the grey wolf sign can be described as a far-right extremist.

“We condemn the politically motivated reactions to the use of a historical and cultural symbol in a way that does not target anyone during the celebration at a sports event,” it added.

‘No hidden message’

The Grey Wolves is regarded as the militant wing of Turkey’s Movement Party (MHP) and has been banned in France and Austria, but not in Germany.

The group advocated radical ideas and used violence in the 1980s against leftist activists and ethnic minorities.

Speaking after the game in Leipzig, Demiral said there was no “hidden message” in his celebration.

“The way I celebrated had something to do with my Turkish identity,” said Demiral, who was man of the match after scoring both Turkey’s goals.

“We are all Turks, I am very proud to be Turkish and that is the meaning of this gesture.”

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Photo: AP Photo/Michael Varaklas

The defender said he saw Turkish supporters in the stands using the salute.

“I just wanted to demonstrate how happy I am and how proud I am,” Demiral said, adding that he hoped there would be “even more opportunities to show this gesture.”

READ ALSO: How (and where) to watch Euro 2024 games in Germany this week

Germany is home to the biggest Turkish diaspora abroad, and Turkey’s quarter-final clash with the Netherlands at the Olympiastadion will be keenly followed by the community in Berlin.

Ties between the two countries have always been uneasy, with Berlin critical of Erdogan’s clampdown on domestic dissent while recognising that getting regional power Turkey onside was necessary to tackle thorny issues.

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EURO 2024

Berlin’s Turkish community stoked for Euro 2024 quarter-final ‘home game’

Members of Berlin's large Turkish community have vowed to paint the town red when their team comes to the German capital to play the Netherlands in Euro 2024 on Saturday.

Published: 5 July 2024 09:01 CEST
Berlin's Turkish community stoked for Euro 2024 quarter-final 'home game'

“The atmosphere will be like a home game for us,” said Muhammet Ali Sevilmis, 36, who runs a phone repair shop in Berlin’s Kreuzberg district.

There will be “mainly Turks in the stadium”, predicted Sevilmis, who himself forked out 500 euros ($540) for a ticket after Turkey’s victory against Austria to reach the quarter-finals.

“For us Turks, it doesn’t really matter whether it’s 100 euros more or less. The main thing is that we’re in the stadium celebrating on the day,” he told AFP.

Sevilmis will be joined in Berlin’s Olympiastadion by Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Turkish leader has announced his attendance amid a spiralling diplomatic row over an alleged ultra-nationalist hand sign made by Turkish defender Merih Demiral during his team’s win over Austria.

German officials have condemned the hand gesture and UEFA has launched an investigation for “inappropriate behaviour”, prompting Ankara to hit back against the accusations as “xenophobia”.

Ambassadors of both countries were summoned in tit-for-tat moves as the episode once again laid bare the political tensions that often engulf Germany’s Turkish community.

With emotions expected to run high at the match, Berlin police have said they will deploy more officers, classifying Saturday’s quarter-final as a “high-risk game”.

READ ALSO: Erdogan to attend Euro 2024 match in Berlin as diplomatic row spirals

‘We are the hosts’ 

But fans shrugged off the concerns, saying they are just looking forward to a nice party.

Berlin is home to the largest Turkish community outside of Turkey, many of them the descendants of “guest workers” invited under a massive economic programme in the 1960s and 70s.

Around 200,000 people with Turkish roots currently live in the city, or around six percent of the total population.

The Kreuzberg district in particular has become a hub for Turkish culture and restaurants serving the famous Döner kebab.

Kavurma-Kofte, a small Turkish eatery with a terrace on one of the main streets running through the neighbourhood, will be showing the match on a big screen on Saturday.

“It is special because many Turks live in Berlin and we will be the hosts,” said owner Kemal Salis, 64.

The restaurant is fully booked for Saturday, Salis said.

“We have not seen the Turkish team in such good form for a long time. It’s an atmosphere we have missed,” he said.

At Imren, another Turkish restaurant nearby, the excitement was tangible.

Street party

Ibrahim Filikci, 29, was still hoarse voice from celebrating the team’s win against Austria on Kurfürstendamm, one of Berlin’s main shopping avenues where thousands of Turks gathered on Tuesday night.

Arrests were reported at a previous gathering on the street, but Filikci said the mood was peaceful.

“(The street) was completely blocked off. Police were there but everything was fine. No problems, no fights, everything was great,” he said.

Tahsin Yilmaz, 53, said he will be supporting both teams on Saturday, wearing half red and half orange, as his father worked in the Netherlands.

“I like the Netherlands and I want to party with them, drink with them, etc. The Dutch are very nice and friendly, you can have a nice time with them, dance and have fun,” he said.

Dutch fans have brought a lively atmosphere to the tournament so far, filling German cities with their bright orange shirts.

But Sevilmis believes they will be no match for the Turks in Berlin.

“We know the Orange. It won’t be a competition, you’ll understand what I mean on the day,” he said.

Turks living in Germany have sometimes come under fire for their continued loyalty to the Turkish team, despite Germany having several players with Turkish roots — including captain Ilkay Gundogan.

Sevilmis, who was born in Berlin, pointed out that if all goes well for Türkiye, they could eventually face Germany in the final.

Would he still support Turkey then?

“Of course.”

By Femke Colborne

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