Several people unfurled a protest banner against the World Cup in Qatar on the sidelines of the Nations League game between Germany and Italy. Shortly thereafter, the police intervened. Now the DFB spoke up.
The German Football Association (DFB) has issued an explanation for the police operation after the presentation of a Fifa-critical poster in the Nations League game between Germany and Italy (5: 2). After showing the banner with the inscription “15,000 dead for big scenes – Fifa and Co. without conscience. Boycott Qatar”, a group of people moved very quickly from the spectator area, but remained in the stadium area, according to a message on Wednesday : “Because of this atypical behavior and out of concern for the safety of the event, the DFB informed the police.”
Later it turned out that “the action did not pose any danger”. “It is important for us to emphasize that freedom of expression is a valuable asset. Restricting it was and is not in the interest of the DFB,” the association said. This is one of the reasons why the DFB “approved both registered DFB-critical and FIFA World Cup-critical banners” in the course of the DFB Cup final.
Police previously explained their use
“In addition: In particular, the issue of hosting and awarding the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, the conditions for workers on site, the restricted freedom of the press and freedom of expression and the situation for the LGBTIQ+ community requires a critical discourse,” was in the Read the statement: “German fan culture makes a significant contribution to this, which we expressly welcome.”