DFB star Rudiger responds to uproar triggered by his European Championship picture
UEFA snaps shots of football stars for the European Championship, and a picture of DFB defender Antonio Rüdiger has stirred up controversy once more. Players and the association remain unfazed by the criticism. Other DFB players mimic the same pose.
Antonio Rüdiger, a national team player, expressed surprise at the commotion over an official UEFA photo of him for the European Championship. The image shows the 31-year-old with his index finger raised, a move that previously sparked criticism over a photo on Instagram during Ramadan. He was accused of flashing an Islamic symbol with the so-called Tauhid-Finger. Many experts disagreed with this assessment. Now, like numerous other Championship participants, Rüdiger, as well as many others, was photographed by UEFA with this gesture for a team photo.
"The photo was snapped during the official UEFA shoots for the Euro. Over 50 players from various European teams were also captured in this pose by the UEFA photographer. The photographs were specifically requested," Rüdiger explained to the "Bild" newspaper. "Having stated my stance extensively in March, and that remains unchanged," added the Real Madrid pro.
UEFA also dismissed any claims of using religious symbols. "The depicted symbol in the pictures is typical celebratory pose, devoid of any religious or political connotations due to UEFA's objectives," the association clarified in response to an inquiry. German team players, such as Marc-André Ter Stegen, Chris Führich, and Maximilian Mittelstäd, were also photographed by UEFA in the same manner as Rüdiger.
