Soccer - Not just colorful and peaceful: EM also a stage for extremists
Germany is currently celebrating a colorful football festival. However, among the partygoers are people for whom the European Championship means something other than a unifying and open-minded fan summer.
Since the beginning of the tournament, there have been numerous nationalist and right-wing incidents. Hate posters on the stadium walls, insults, open racism, politically motivated confrontations: The Euro 2024 is also a showcase for extremists.
"A European Championship is never just a major sporting event, but always also a political stage," says Robert Claus, an expert on fan culture, hooligans, and extremism in football. "And on this stage, the question is being negotiated: Does Europe stand for unity and diversity? Or does it also stand for something else, for aggressive nationalist competitions."
Two Europas at this EM
The German organizers and UEFA would like the Euro 2024 to be a tournament of peace, a symbolic event that brings people closer together in times of war in Ukraine and Gaza. A united Europe for a month was the dream. However, this is too beautiful to be true, says researcher Claus in an interview with the German Press Agency: "It is important to see the coexistence of these Europas: There are fan groups that have managed to celebrate a peaceful sports festival so far. But there are also parts of the fan scenes that live out their aggressive competition."
Some examples from the group stage:
In the Austrian fan block, during the match against Poland, a banner with the inscription "Defend Europe" was hoisted, a slogan of the far-right Identitarian Movement. This group speaks out against multicultural societies and spreads right-wing conspiracy theories; in Germany, the group is monitored by the Constitutional Protection Agency. Albanian and Croatian fans reportedly jeered together at the group match in Hamburg: "Ubi Srbina!" ("Kill Serbs!"). In addition, flags of the UCK, an ultranationalist militia that fought violently for the independence of Kosovo in the 90s, were seen in the Albanian fan block. The paramilitary group is accused of war crimes. Serbian fans, on the other hand, displayed flags in the stadiums with the outlines of Kosovo, colored in the colors of the Serbian coat of arms. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008 - Belgrade does not recognize this. Serbian fans are also reported to have cheered for former generals - and war criminals. Among Turkish fans, the so-called Wolf's Salute is often shown, a hand gesture and symbol of the Grey Wolves. This is a right-wing, anti-Semitic, and racist movement, to which more than 12,000 fans in Germany are attributed. In Dortmund's stadium, fights broke out between opposing fans before the match between Turkey and Georgia.
For experts, such incidents are no surprise. An apolitical football is fundamentally an unrealistic wish for some officials. "When Georgian and Turkish fans fight, it is highly politically charged," says Claus.
At this European Championship, there are additional factors that fuel nationalistic behavior from fans. Four teams from the Balkans (Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Albania) are participating, three of which were formerly Yugoslav republics.
"Football in the Balkans has always been and still is a catalyst for politics and nationalistic thoughts," explained researcher Claus.
Right-wing trend at the EM
The recent resurgence of right-wing parties is also reflected in the EM. The journalist and extremism researcher Ruben Gerczikow told ARD-"Sportschau" that "the right-wing trend in Europe is also evident in the stadiums of the European Championship like a magnifying glass." Authorities, associations, and society are paying too little attention to the symbols and structures of the scene, criticized Gerczikow. The "Defend Europe" banner was only briefly visible in the fan block in Berlin - Serbian flags with Kosovo outlines, on the other hand, hung throughout the stadium in Munich right in the middle of the stands.
The UEFA has already reacted to some incidents, such as against Serbians, Albanians, and Croatians, and imposed fines. Albanian striker Mirlind Daku was suspended for two games because he "brought football into disrepute" by leading nationalistic songs before the fan block.
Kosovar TV reporter Arlind Sadiku lost his accreditation because he showed the controversial double-eagle gesture, a symbol of homeland loyalty for all ethnic Albanians, during the England vs. Serbia match. The journalist stated that he reacted to anti-Kosovo chants from Serbian fans.
Hoping for fewer incidents
The organizers hope that without teams like Croatia, Serbia, and Albania, such incidents will decrease in the knockout phase. Extremists should no longer be given such a large platform. As fan expert Claus emphasized: "Football, considering the large number of fans - and above all the large number of young, violent men - is highly attractive for recruitment by nationalistic groups."
- The European Championship serves as a platform for not only soccer but also the expression of various political ideologies, as demonstrated by the appearance of the Identitarian Movement's slogan.
- During the match against Poland, Albanian and Croatian fans reportedly engaged in a hostile exchange, chanting "Ubi Srbina!", a call to harm Serbs.
- Flags of the UCK, an ultranationalist militia accused of war crimes, were visible among the Albanian fan group.
- Serbian fans displayed flags with the outlines of Kosovo, colored in the Serbian coat of arms, further fueling tensions between the two countries.
- Serbian fans are also reported to have cheered for former generals and war criminals during matches.
- Among Turkish fans, the Grey Wolves' symbol, a right-wing, anti-Semitic, and racist movement, is often displayed.
- Fights between opposing fans, such as between Turkish and Georgian fans, are highly politically charged, according to fan expert Robert Claus.
- The recent resurgence of right-wing parties in Europe is reflected in the Euro 2024, with symbols and structures of the scene going largely unaddressed by authorities.
- Albanian striker Mirlind Daku was suspended for two games for engaging in nationalistic songs before the fan block, while Kosovar TV reporter Arlind Sadiku lost his accreditation for showing a controversial double-eagle gesture in response to anti-Kosovo chants.
- The organizers hope that in the knockout phase, without the participation of Croatia, Serbia, and Albania, the occurrence of such nationalistic incidents will decrease.
