Stadium Sleeper Claims: Stayed Overnight Inside Sports Venue
A supporter of England allegedly dozed off inside Veltins-Arena, as portrayed in a viral social media video, but UEFA denies this claim. However, the story's authenticity is questionable due to the man's detailed account.
Stumbling around, disoriented - that's how an English fan looks in a viral video in the Veltins-Arena. The short clip quickly spreads, with the man claiming he slept in the stadium after the England vs Serbia match. "Just woke up, it's four in the morning, I'm freezing", he says into the camera, panning it throughout the empty arena with lights still on.
UEFA denies this claim. Safety concerns are being brushed off. According to their statement, the video was not taken during the tournament or even in the last few weeks, as there are no branding, signage, or tournament protocol elements in the stadium. Moreover, there are no visible line markings on the field, which should be visible if the video was taken in the hours after the game.
However, RTL/ntv/Stern's research casts doubts on UEFA's denial. Contrary to their claim, both a sideline and parts of the penalty area can briefly be seen in the video, although they are not clear due to low video quality. Additionally, there is a second video of the man, where colorful flags can be seen on the outside of the railing, unlike when FC Schalke plays in its stadium, where the railing is uniformly blue and bears the team name and sponsor.
The Man in the Video is Identified as Tom Kitchin
Contrary to UEFA's statement, the man's own account also contradicts this. "Der Spiegel" has identified him. He is Tom Kitchin from Yorkshire. He tells his story. He had gone to get a few beers after the final whistle and then went back inside the stadium. There, he claims he fell asleep, only waking up freezing.
He recorded the video because he was certain his friends wouldn't believe him. Kitchin claims that two security guards asked him what he was doing there at that hour. They then laughed, and he eventually went to the hotel. "And that was it."
"Der Spiegel" received photos from him, showing Kitchin with other England fans. The stadium is visible, along with the scoreboard showing England leading Serbia 1-0. The stadium is already quite empty. He also made the second video available, claiming it was taken in the stadium, with the recording time 3.11 am visible on the camera app screenshot. Kitchin claims it is British time, so 4.11 am in Germany.
The incident's authenticity cannot be definitively determined due to various versions and lack of known witnesses. It is questionable whether the UEFA denial is convincing, especially since the video contains counter-evidence, or if they chose to ignore the potentially embarrassing, possibly security-threatening incident.
The England fan had to put in a lot of effort to become a fake one. In the end, even "Spiegel" managed to track him down. He had to travel to Gelsenkirchen beforehand, be there during the game, and adjust his watch. He had to consistently tell the same ridiculous story to various media.
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The European Football Championship 2024 is just around the corner, and FC Schalke 04 fans are eagerly anticipating their team's performance. Despite the controversy surrounding the viral video of an England fan who allegedly spent the night in the Veltins-Arena following the England vs Serbia match, the focus remains on the exciting world of soccer.
