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UEFA apologises to Bayern fans for banning jokey Latin banner

The European football association UEFA has apologized to FC Bayern Munich fans for banning a humorous banner telling supporters of AS Rome to “go home” in Latin during a Champions League match in September.

UEFA apologises to Bayern fans for banning jokey Latin banner
Photo: DPA

Bavarian fans wanted to hold up a sign reading “Romans go home” (Romani ite domum) in reference to the classic Monty Python film “Life of Brian,” which has a scene showing a zealous centurion correcting the Latin grammar of Brian’s anti-Roman graffiti.

UEFA banned the message fearing it was discriminatory against an ethnic group and therefore a threat to security at the match. But Munich-based daily Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on Wednesday that the football functionaries had seen the error of their ways and expressed their regret to the Bayern fans.

“We acknowledge the motto was unfortunately misinterpreted by UEFA. We belatedly congratulate you on your humorous creation that unfortunately was never shown and we apologize for the ban,” the association said in a statement quoted by the paper.

The embarrassing acknowledgement is the second apology from UEFA to Bayern fans in recent weeks – officials earlier this month reversed their opposition to banners referring to the Bavarian city Dachau after recognizing they had nothing to do with the Nazi death camp once located there.

The Local/mry

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RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

https://twitter.com/GravesenFumado/status/1764242481984491822

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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