TFF President Büyükekşi: The punishment given to Merih Demiral by UEFA is unacceptable, and our right to appeal has also been taken away.

TFF President Mehmet Büyükekşi made a statement regarding the 2-match ban imposed on Merih Demiral by UEFA. Büyükekşi stated that they could not apply to CAS. Büyükekşi said in his statement, "Due to the fact that the right to appeal and apply to CAS is closed for penalties below 3 matches, our right to appeal has also been taken away with the 2-match ban imposed.".

Here are Mehmet Büyükekşi's statements;

"WE SEE IT AS AN UNLAWFUL AND POLITICAL DECISION"

"We see the two-match ban imposed on our player Merih Demiral by the UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee as unacceptable, unlawful, and political decision.

Although there is no statement regarding the disciplinary sanction in the report of the UEFA delegate on the match, the fact that UEFA appointed an inspector and initiated an investigation after the statements of some Western politicians has also cast a shadow over the independence of the process and the decision.

The gesture made by our player during the goal celebration is in no way a political gesture, it is a symbol representing Turkishness that Turks have been using for centuries.

"OUR RIGHT TO APPEAL HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY"

This penalty is unacceptable in this great organization where our National Football Team has made history by eliminating Austria in the round of 16 and will play the quarter-final match against the Netherlands tomorrow.

The unfairness of the investigation process, the leaking of the report prepared by the UEFA inspector to biased media organizations, and the fact that our comprehensive 27-page Defense file, which we prepared meticulously, was not evaluated can also be understood from the decision announced immediately after our defense period ended.

Due to the fact that the right to appeal and apply to CAS is closed for penalties below 3 matches, our right to appeal has also been taken away with the 2-match ban imposed.

"WE ARE DISTURBED BY THE LEAKING OF THE DECISION TO THE BIASED MEDIA"

This biased and unfair decision has deeply disappointed our entire nation.

We are particularly disturbed by the fact that the decision was leaked to some biased media organizations. These actions support our suspicions that the process has been politicized,

When compared to the fines and suspended sentences given for much more serious violations, including racist behavior in the stands, this two-match ban is extremely disproportionate. Unfortunately, these inconsistencies are the strongest evidence that a double standard is being applied against our country.

"WE WILL STAND UP AS A NATION, NOT JUST AS A NATIONAL TEAM"

However, one of the greatest characteristics of the Great Turkish Nation is its ability to unite in the face of injustice and lawlessness, we will stand up not only as the Turkish national team but as a nation against all these injustices. This has always been the case and tomorrow evening in the Berlin stadium, we will prove it to the whole world with our sporting performance.

In these beautiful days when we only want the beauty of football to shine, we have made our rightful defense in the most detailed and comprehensive way. However, I am sure that this unfair decision will encourage our passionate fans in Berlin, whom we consider our second home, to stand behind our team more strongly than ever before, being cautious against malicious provocations."