Furious Turkey fans slam UEFA for difference in Jude Bellingham and Merih Demiral’s bans after both were sanctioned for controversial goal celebrations at Euro 2024

Furious Turkey fans have taken to social media to highlight what they believe to be a discrepancy in the recent punishments handed out to Jude Bellingham and Merih Demiral.

Demiral scored twice in his country’s 2-1 last-16 win over Austria on Tuesday, booking them a quarter-final meeting with the Netherlands.

But the 26-year-old’s controversial celebration after his second goal prompted a UEFA probe over alleged ‘inappropriate behaviour’.

And a two-game ban has since been confirmed ‘for violating the basic rules of decent conduct, for using sports events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and for bringing the sport of football into disrepute’.

Meanwhile Jude Bellingham was also sanctioned by the governing body for his own controversial celebration after netting a stoppage-time overhead kick in England’s come-from-behind win against Slovakia.

Turkey fans have furiously taken to social media after Jude Bellingham escaped a ban for his own celebration in the round of 16

Bellingham appeared to grab his crotch in celebrating England’s equaliser, though later claimed on social media that the gesture was an ‘inside joke’ between himself and close friends who were in the stands.

Unlike Demiral however, Bellingham will be able to play in the quarterfinals, with UEFA suspending his one-match ban and handing him a £25,000 fine.

The decision provoked fury among Turkey supporters on social media, with many using the hashtag #BeFairUEFA to claim the organisation has been unfair with its punishments.

One asked how the sanctions could be considered fair: ‘UEFA gave Merih Demiral A a 2-match ban, and Jude Bellingham a 30K pound fine and a 1-match suspended ban. Where is justice?’

Another added: ‘UEFA reviewed Jude Bellingham’s defense for 5 days and made their decision. TFF and Merih Demiral’s defense was received this morning, reviewed for 3 hours and gave the penalty!’

A third agreed and called on Turkish Football Federation to intervene: ‘UEFA reviewed Jude Bellingham’s defense for 5 days and made their decision. 

Turkey fans claimed that the UEFA had failed to be consistent in their sanctions for the two incidents

‘TFF and Merih Demiral’s defense was reviewed for 3 hours and gave the penalty! Servet Yardımcı, who is thinking of becoming TFF president, what do you do?

Another claimed that the gesture had been misinterpreted: ‘We reject the penalty imposed by UEFA on Turkish football player Merih Demiral for making the “Grey Wolf” sign, which is a symbol of the entire Turkic world…’

The gesture allegedly performed by Demiral is banned in France and Austria.

The ban was introduced in Austria in 2019 after a law prohibiting ‘extremist organisation’ symbols was passed. The gesture can result in fines of up to €4,000 (£3,400).

But in 2019, Turkey’s government criticised Austria’s stance, claiming the ban equated a symbol of a legal political party with that of the PKK, a Kurdish militant movement considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and the EU.

After the match, the former Juventus defender explained why he had performed the gesture.

Demiral is set to miss Turkey’s quarter-final clash with the Netherlands and the semi-final should they progress

‘I had a specific celebration in mind, something connected to my Turkish identity. I am incredibly proud to be Turkish, and I felt that pride deeply after scoring,’ he said.

‘I wanted to express that, and I’m very happy I did. Our fans are proud of us. I saw them doing the gesture in the stands, and it made me want to do it even more.’