A bunch of Serbian followers attending the Euro 2024 in Germany have been filmed chanting “Vladimir Putin!” and unfurling a Russian nationwide flag, together with their very own state and nationwide symbols.
The Union of European Soccer Associations (UEFA) banned the show of Russian flags on the Ukraine-Romania sport on Monday, after the tricolor was noticed within the stands of the Germany-Scotland and Serbia-England video games the day earlier than.
In a video making rounds on social media on Monday, a gaggle of followers carrying Serbian nationwide jerseys could be seen exterior a church in Gelsenkirchen, chanting the title of the Russian president.
In addition they waved the Russian presidential flag, that includes the golden state seal within the heart of the nationwide tricolor, in addition to the nationwide flag of Serbia and the unofficial flag of Republika Srpska, the predominantly ethnic Serb portion of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Whereas nationwide flags are allowed on the European soccer championship, the organizers have pointedly requested the followers to “go away all different flags at dwelling.” Based on German media, the authorities have been looking out for Russian, Israeli, or Palestinian flags specifically.
The Russian nationwide workforce was banned from UEFA occasions shortly after the beginning of the Ukraine battle, in February 2022.
UEFA’s ban has not stopped Albanian followers from brandishing flags of “Larger Albania” – an entity that envisions annexing elements of Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Greece – in the course of the sport towards Italy on Saturday. One fan was photographed within the full uniform of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Military, whereas others flew KLA flags as properly. The ethnic Albanian separatists and NATO fought towards Serbia in 1999. UEFA has opened a probe into the Albanian affiliation for “provocative pictures,” in addition to unauthorized pyrotechnics and a pitch invasion.
A number of ethnic Albanians have additionally been implicated in Sunday’s brawl between England and Serbia followers in Gelsenkirchen, which resulted in half a dozen arrests and the deployment of 400 riot police.
A Czech soccer hooligan account has posted pictures of Serbian ultras parading 4 captured English banners following the altercation.
The Euro 2024 championship kicked off on June 14 and can conclude on July 14.
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