Erdoğan: The 2-match ban given to Merih has cast a shadow over the championship, UEFA's decision is a political one.

In EURO 2024 held in Germany, our national team bid farewell to the tournament by losing to the Netherlands with a score of 2-1 in the quarter-finals. In the tournament, the wolf sign made by Merih Demiral after the Austria match made a mark more than football. President Erdogan, who watched the match between Turkey and the Netherlands from the stands, answered the questions of journalists on the plane after the match. Reacting to the penalty given by UEFA, Erdogan said, "The 2-match ban given to Merih overshadowed the championship, UEFA's decision is a political decision."

The questions and answers of the journalists on the plane to President Erdogan are as follows;

What was the decision about Merih Demiral exactly intended to punish? While there was a clean competition, clean fan support, and successful continuation, is this the result of an effort not to involve politics in football sincerely? Or is it the opposite? Why does this double standard come up again here? One of the questions that comes to mind is this, does this disturb you?

The approach of the West to us has never changed in terms of mentality. The West has continued with the same mentality and continues in the same way. The punishment they gave to Merih Demiral was a punishment that had already been decided from the very beginning. I had expressed this in our interview on the plane on my return from Kazakhstan. If the aim is to punish the wolf sign, do you punish the eagle in Germany? No. Do you punish the French by saying 'Why are you crowing?' to the French? No. However, the punishment given to Merih, who made the wolf sign, which is included in our legends, in the excitement of that goal and the consecutive goals, is not for Merih himself. In fact, it is a punishment given to Turkey as a nation. The best response to this would actually be for us to win this match. I already believe that all our footballer friends, our brothers, went out on the field with this love, this excitement. They would have given them a good lesson on the field, but unfortunately if the positions caught in the last 3-5 minutes had turned into goals, they would have been the ones who returned crying. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. The spirit that your question implies, unfortunately, was our expectation but it didn't happen. Now we have the World Cup in 2026, the European Championship in 2028. Now we have prepared a team for these in the best way possible.

Mr. President, how do you see this generation? We experienced something similar in 2008 but couldn't continue. We missed the championships in 2010-2012 as well. What should be paid attention to in order to be better in the upcoming period, to achieve this continuity? What is the critical point here in your opinion?

There are two important points. One is the structure of the federation from top to bottom, and the other is the permanence of the technical staff... Pay attention to the West or the functioning in the world, there is no such thing as unraveling from one side and knitting from the other. That is, if you are going to establish a structure, permanence is very important. Now, with this young team and by making the management staff permanent, I believe that results can be achieved from the steps to be taken. Otherwise, keep changing, bring back again. Hasn't it been like that until now? It has always changed. Technical staffs have changed like that. The federation has also experienced the same things. It doesn't work like that. Those who have achieved success in the West or in the world have achieved it with those permanent staffs. They have achieved results with them. For example, Mesut Özil was with us. How old was Mesut when he played for the German national team? I watched the match that we lost 3-1 with Merkel. He was 22 years old at that time. He even scored a goal against us. Now Turkey is establishing a football school, an academy. They want to create the structure in Turkey as in Germany and Real Madrid. If such a step is really taken and that structure is transferred to us, then we will see that not only at the age of 22, but also at the ages of 10-12, the children will grow up on the football field. Before hitting the ball, they will learn respect and love in this academy.

Mr. President, with your permission, I have two questions, the first one is about Arda Güler, I am really curious about your thoughts on him. As someone who closely follows football, where do you position Arda among the most talented Turkish football players of all time? And there was a save by Mert Günok in the Austria match one second before the end, what did you feel at that moment, I am very curious?

Mert Günok is now over 30 years old. It is an incredible thing for a goalkeeper of that age to show such reflexes. It is indescribable that a 35-year-old goalkeeper shows such reflexes. He literally jumped and saved the ball from there. In the previous match, the indifference of the referees came to the fore. They counted the goal that should not have been counted. A goalkeeper, as you know, does not make a wrong move in the six-yard box or inside the eighteen. The one who fouled him was already in the middle. As for Arda Güler, Arda is currently 19 years old but he started playing football when he was under 10 years old. God has really given him different abilities. It takes a little patience and giving Arda a chance. For example, today he played for 90 minutes. His ball distributions were good. Especially in set pieces, he was great with the corners he sent back. I told him this on the phone conversation, I said "you take it and send it to the right place." The same thing happened today. Not everyone is that talented. The only thing he lacks right now is aerial balls... Arda is a separate talent in long balls. If he continues on the path without getting spoiled, determined and consistent, Turkey will benefit greatly from Arda. The current Real Madrid team he is in will also benefit greatly.

What were your expectations before the tournament? How satisfied are you with the performance of the team? How satisfied are you with the quarter-final performance? Also, according to you, which of our players stood out in the tournament? I also want to add this. We will also host EURO 2032. What experiences will we bring from this tournament to there? Both in terms of football and organization.

I have to say this very clearly. I cannot distinguish any of our players who played in these matches from each other. They all really showed their abilities. From our goalkeeper to the right back, left back, midfield... For example, look at Ferdi Kadıoğlu, very ambitious.When we play football, our coach always tells us, "Boys, you're going to eat the ball." Can a ball be eaten? "You're going to eat it." What does this mean? You're going to put all your effort into it. Now, for example, Ferdi has this. Ferdi is very ambitious for his height. When he takes the ball, when he breaks through, he joins the attack from the back to the front very solidly. Now, there are some numbers being talked about regarding him. Fenerbahçe coach Jose Mourinho said, 'he can't go.' We shouldn't play with Ferdi's future either. Barış Alper is doing very well, too. We already talked about Arda. Then, when Abdülkerim played as a center-back, he was good. He was also good when he played as a libero. But I will say something. For example, in Portugal, especially as a libero, there's Beşiktaş's Pepe. He's 41 years old now. How does a 41-year-old man coordinate that from the back four? Distributing balls from 50 meters, 60 meters, 70 meters is not a random thing. Ronaldo is 38, too. For example, the thing that caught my attention the most about Ronaldo is his dominance in aerial balls. He already has two goals from penalties. He scored one in extra time and one from the previous penalty, and he missed one. In short, we don't have any footballers in our national team that we can say "this one is better, that one is not." They all gave their best on the field. I kiss all of them from their eyes. We will reflect these experiences to 2032. Our solidarity with the Italians is very important there. In fact, we took on this task together with the Italians because of the infrastructure and facilities. If Montella is still the Italian coach, our job will probably be easier.



Dear Mr. President, I was about to ask a question about Montella. Foreign coaches who come to the national team are generally criticized for not being local names. However, Montella has a warm side. Both with the messages he gives and his love for Turkey, and in the dialogues he has with you after victories, he was quite warm and sincere. There were even comments in the foreign press like "are his ancestors Turkish?" What do you think about Montella? Do you like his coaching?



Every coach has their defended side. Just like there is no perfect person, there is no perfect coach either. It's the same in basketball and volleyball. Montella is already a proven person. Now they have started attacking him right away. What is it? He didn't make the changes on time. Come on, let him do that. No, it should have been in the 60th minute, why didn't it happen in the 60th minute? They are saying these things. I'm not on this side of the matter. He has already proven himself. Therefore, he is trying to do his best, and he is doing it. When the team wins, Montella is good; when there is a defeat, he is bad. These are not elegant things. Especially as a President, it doesn't suit me at all. We only said "he did his best." Now what is being talked about? If Turkey is said to be in the top five, it means they have achieved something.



Dear Mr. President, my question is about the foreign quota of football clubs. The foreign quota will be lifted next season, and 11 foreigners will play in the starting 11. 11 foreigners will play. It has already increased from 8 to 11. Our players can play for world-famous clubs. Now, after the success in the championship, our players are again on the radar of world-famous clubs. It is being discussed that our clubs should give more opportunities to local players. What advice would you give on this matter?



I think we should open the way for our local players. I don't think it's right for our national football to have too many foreigners. Otherwise, how will the players develop? Will the players come from our clubs' academies, like Başakşehir Academy, or the academy that Mesut Özil will establish, for children over the age of 10? This door should not be closed to them. A certain number can be appropriate, especially in terms of creating a market. Too many numbers will kill the market. It is better to open the door without giving this opportunity.



I would like to ask you a question about Gaza. I know that you closely follow the recent developments in Gaza. The possibility of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange is back on the agenda. You always keep this in mind. Is there any significant progress in this regard? Are you hopeful for a ceasefire? What can you say about Turkey's role in this process? The Israel-Hezbollah tension is worrying, could there be a new war? I am curious about your views on what Turkey can do in terms of diplomatic initiatives with regional countries in such a situation. Can we have a general evaluation regarding Gaza?



There have been some significant positive developments in Gaza for the past two or three days. The meetings between the head of MOSSAD and Hamas officials in Doha are mentioned. Some positive steps have been taken in the meetings, which envisage a permanent ceasefire. They are now saying "any moment" for a ceasefire. That means an accurate news can come from there at any moment. But the whole issue is Netanyahu's attitude. Israel should not be able to continue this cruelty, this brutality any longer. Israel should stop resisting to continue these massacres and put an end to these inhumane attacks. It is necessary for the international community, especially Western countries, to increase their pressure on Israel. Israel has been the one persisting in the attacks, continuing the massacres. Israel is the one violating human rights and international law. Now they are threatening Lebanon to spread the conflicts to the region, to ease themselves. Israel should abandon its intention to spread the conflicts to the region. The United States and other Western countries should give up their support to Israel at this point. Turkey has been pro-peace from the very beginning. Turkey is the country that has voiced the loudest that these conflicts should come to an end, and a two-state solution within the 1967 borders will provide a lasting peace.



In Iran, there was an election recently, and a Turkish-origin President was elected. Mesud Pezeşkiyan is someone who doesn't hide his Turkish identity and even says that he breaks his fast. What do you think about the impact of this on Turkey-Iran relations? Can we hear your evaluation on this?



Mesut Pezeşkiyan is actually a Turk of Azerbaijani origin. For example, he speaks Turkish in Tabriz. But when he goes to Kurdish regions, he can speak Kurdish there as well.He is also fluent in Persian. I will contact him and congratulate him when we return. Hopefully, Turkey-Iran relations will improve in the future. Moreover, Turkey has the best relations with Iran in the region. Iran is an important neighbor with whom we have historical and cultural ties. I expect that the bilateral relations between Turkey and Iran will develop positively and at an increasing pace in the new era.

As you know, there was an election in the UK and the ruling Conservative Party suffered a major defeat. Moreover, Rishi Sunak, despite his strict immigration policies, suffered a big loss. How do you think our relations with the UK will be in this new era, and how do you evaluate the defeat of Rishi Sunak, who offered these strict immigration policies?

So far, the policies they have implemented and the economic difficulties that the UK has experienced have been the most important reasons for Rishi Sunak's loss, in my opinion. As for the left, the Labour Party has not achieved any results in the UK for 14 years. But in this election, they won 411 seats. Until now, even during Tony Blair's time, the Labour Party could not reach such a number. Now, by reaching this number of MPs, the Labour Party has gained such power in the UK for the second time. I haven't been able to congratulate the leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, yet. One of the first things we will do when we return is to call him. He says that as a country that has left the European Union, he does not consider rejoining. In our meeting, we will discuss "where will Turkey-UK relations go from now on?" Turkey and the UK have deep-rooted bilateral relations. During our tenure, we have worked with both Labour and Conservative Prime Ministers. The important thing is to work towards the common interests of the two countries. In the new era, we will continue to develop our relations with our ally, the UK, in all fields. We intend to further enhance the positive trend in our relations by addressing important agenda items ahead of us.

Mr. President, in the past year, provocative incidents have been happening one after another. We saw the latest example in Kayseri. Could there be an organized hand behind these incidents? Because there have been numerous incidents. What do you think?

There is definitely a mixer involved. It is not possible for there not to be a political mixer in such incidents. No matter how much they try to stir things up, we, as a strong state, have already given them the necessary slap. And we will continue to do so in the future. Just as Turkey has defeated the PKK, PYD, KCK, and FETÖ thanks to its strength, we will also defeat these. But it is important that our politicians act wisely in this regard. As you know, there is no longer a main opposition. This opposition continues to provoke and does not stay calm. They still talk about and deal with refugees. Currently, we have over 3 million refugees from Syria in our country. Now we have reached a point where if Bashar al-Assad takes a step towards improving relations with Turkey, we will show the same approach towards him. Because we were not enemies with Syria yesterday, we used to have family meetings with Assad. We will extend our invitation. Hopefully, with this invitation, we want to bring Turkey-Syria relations back to where they used to be. Our invitation can happen at any moment. As for having a meeting in Turkey, there are approaches from President Putin and the Iraqi Prime Minister. We talk about mediation everywhere, so why not with our neighbor, who is on our border?