Turkey’s Sports Minister Condemns ‘Unfair’ Ban Of Footballer Merih Demiral.
Turkey’s sports minister has condemned UEFA’s decision to impose a two-match ban on Merih Demiral, describing it as “unfair” and “biased.” The ban was given for Demiral’s ultra-nationalist gesture during Euro 2024, ruling him out of Turkey’s crucial quarter-final match against the Netherlands.
“We condemn UEFA’s unfair and biased decision, which has no legal basis and that we consider to be purely political,” Osman Askin Bak stated on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The suspension has sparked controversy and frustration among Turkish officials and fans, who view the penalty as disproportionately severe and politically motivated. The ban leaves Turkey without one of their key defenders for the upcoming knockout stage, adding a significant challenge to their campaign in the tournament.