A right-wing banner was held up in the Austrian fan block. © ANSA / ROBERT GHEMENT

Right banner: Trouble over Austria’s fan block

The Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) has clearly distanced itself from a right-wing extremist message in the fan block during the European Championship match against Poland.

June 22, 2024

From: apa

"The ÖFB is very concerned that such a banner was allowed into the stadium despite strict controls. The national team and the association clearly stand for tolerance, diversity and integration in all areas of our society," the association said in a statement on Saturday.

Shortly before the end of the 3-1 victory of the Austrians against Poland On Friday evening in Berlin's Olympic Stadium, according to a report by the online portal Laola1 and a post on X, a banner with the inscription "Defend Europe" was held up. This is the title of a campaign by the right-wing extremist "Identitarian Movement" which is using it to stir up sentiment against migrants.

Those responsible should be identified

The ÖFB said the banner could not be attributed to the national team's organized fan scene. "ÖFB fan representatives intervened immediately and documented the action, which lasted around two minutes shortly before the end of the game. Work is now underway to clarify the identity of the people involved. Inflammatory messages like these have no place in the national team's fan sector," the association said.

The Austrian fans otherwise created an atmosphere worthy of the European Championship in Berlin. © APA/afp / JOHN MACDOUGALL

The ÖFB has been clearly positioning itself against extremism for years and has done a lot of preventive work, "because this is in stark contradiction to all the values ​​that the ÖFB and football embody."