European Football Championships on channels 14.6.–14.7. Go to the competition website from this link.
It was known that the organizers of the European football championships, Germany and UEFA, have a difficult task ahead of them.
Even before the Games, several articles discussed how difficult it is to restrain political opinions, considering the world and European situation
In the official areas of the European Championship, for example, tickets that are not related to the competition countries are prohibited. The purpose is to prevent possible conflicts, for example, related to the situations in Ukraine or Israel and Palestine.
Even in the opening match between Germany and Scotland, a couple of Russian flags were seen in the stadium.
Among other things, the competition organization has stationed experts in the stadiums whose task is to understand the language and context of the songs, banners and symbols.
Especially Serb supporters have come to Tikunnokka.
Serbia opened its European Championships by facing England. At the match stadium, Serbian fans had Russian flags and maps where Kosovo was marked as belonging to Serbia.
Videos of Serbian supporters singing in the streets have also spread on social media Vladimir Putin name in Gelsenkirchen.
The football federations of Serbia and Albania were previously fined 10,000 euros by UEFA. The reason was “conveying a provocative message inappropriate for a sporting event”. There was an additional fine for throwing things onto the field.
In the most recent match between Croatia and Albania, supporters of both countries had shouted “kill, kill the Serbs”. The Serbian federation demanded tough sanctions from Uefa and even threatened to withdraw from the games if there were no such sanctions.
Not a surprise after all
When it comes to the pro-Russia side of the European Championship countries, Serbia is different from the others.
– Conservatives in Serbia have thought of Russia as a great power that always has Serbia’s interests in mind, said the docent at the University of Helsinki Brendan Humphreys.
– However, when looking at the matter historically, this is not true. When I look at it from Serbia’s point of view, the relationship between the two countries is unhealthy.
However, there are clear reasons behind it. Serbia and Russia are Orthodox countries, and Serbia has long relied on gas from Russia.
Tuomas Forsberg, professor of international politics at the University of Tampere, says it is a “myth” that Russians and Serbians have some permanent, eternal connection. Serbians, however, think that Russia is on their side.
– Serbians feel that Russia has defended them in disputes in the Balkan region, such as the Kosovo issue. Both are Slavic peoples, Orthodox Christians.
Serbia has not been involved in the sanctions front against Russia. A large number of Serbs consider the West to be guilty of the Russian attack and Russia as their most important partner.
– Russia has seen Serbia as a country through which it can influence Europe and which it can keep in its own camp, says Forsberg.
– It would be a surprise in a way, but if you think that it’s Serbia, it wasn’t a surprise in that light, says Forsberg about the Putin shouts already heard at the games.
First, the surprise came from the fact that you wouldn’t necessarily think you would hear similar screams at the European Championships in Germany. It has been known that, for example, there are plenty of Putin sympathizers in the global south.
Provocations?
Although most of Europe sympathizes with Ukraine, the pro-Russian stances would not come as a big surprise from those who identify themselves as supporters of other countries in addition to Serbia.
– Of course, it is known that sympathies exist in Germany, France and Italy. After all, they can easily spread among football fans and thus come to the fore, Forsberg gives an example.
The professor reminds that often the purpose of football fans is to annoy and be hated. The better it succeeds, the better.
Deliberate provocations before the meeting with Ukraine would be expected. Although the most ardent supporter groups are often found on club teams, there are groups from far and wide at major events like the European Championship.
– It’s more about the supporters, and what they come up with, Forsberg sees.
– If we think of countries, then Hungary and in some sense Slovakia and Austria are countries that have had closer relations with Russia. Then, of course, Turkey in its own right.
In these countries, the image of Russia has remained more positive than, for example, in the Nordic countries, the Baltic countries and Western Europe, where the image of Russia is more unequivocally negative.
It does not mean that the states officially or the majority of the people do not condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine, but there is sympathy and understanding for Russia in these countries.
Georgia has its own chapter. There has been enough turmoil, demonstrations and protests in the country recently. Most of the people support the EU and the West. Therefore, the majority does not accept that the current Georgian administration wants to please Russia.
– It’s a bit funny. Russia occupies part of Georgia and has been at war with each other. Now, on the other hand, it seems that an understanding towards Russia has emerged in Georgia at the administrative level. It’s hard to see where the ship is turning, Forsberg reflects.
– It is hard to imagine that Georgian football fans are pro-Russia.