Turkey president Recep Erdogan to attend Euro 2024 quarter-final against the Netherlands amid rising tensions with hosts Germany after Merih Demiral's 'banned gesture linked to far-right extremist gro

Turkey's nationalist president will attend the team's Euros quarter final on Saturday, amid an escalating diplomatic incident between the country and hosts Germany, over one of the team's players performing an extremist 'wolf salute' during the last-16 win over Austria.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has changed his schedule to be at the match against the Netherlands in Berlin, intensifying a diplomatic stand-off between the two countries, over Turkish defender Merih Demiral's forming the shape of a wolf's head with his fingers after scoring during the 1-0 win in Leipzig.

The gesture is linked to the 'Grey Wolves ' – an ultra-nationalist youth branch of Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) – an ally of Erdogan's AK Party.

UEFA immediately opened an investigation into 'alleged inappropriate behaviour' by Demiral and German Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser tweeted criticism. She stated: 'The symbols of the Turkish extreme right have no place in our stadiums. Using the Euros as a platform for racism is completely unacceptable. We expect UEFA to consider sanctions.'

Turkey, whose relations with Germany have previously been tested by Erdogan's nationalist stance towards the country's huge immigrant Turkish population, was infuriated by Faesar's comment.

It summoned the German ambassador to Turkey on Wednesday to demand an explanation. Berlin responded by summoning the German ambassador in its capital Ankara. Germany and Turkey could potentially still meet in the tournament's Berlin final.

Turkey's foreign ministry has said that German authorities' approach to Demiral 'involved xenophobia' and that the UEFA probe was unacceptable.

It has defended Demiral's gesture as an historical and cultural symbol, which did not target anyone during his celebration.

Established in the 1960s, the 'Grey Wolves' were involved in political violence between leftists and nationalists in Turkey that killed 5,000 people around the time of a 1980 coup. The group is outlawed in France and its symbol is banned in Austria.

While the wolf salute is not banned in Germany, the group is under surveillance, according to the interior minister.

On a visit to Germany before the 2018 World Cup, Erdogan controversially told the Turkish community in Cologne to hold themselves aloof from German society and that their children should be able to study in Turkish-language schools and at a Turkish university.

German players Ilkay Gundogan and Mesut Ozil were criticised by the German FA for posing for photographs with Erdogan during his visit.

Several Turkish media sources said Erdogan had changed his schedule to attend the quarter final against the Netherlands.

Many of Germany's population of seven million Turks are dreaming of a final against Germany. 'I hope Germany and Turkey play in the final and I hope Turkey win,' one of many told Mail Sport last week.