UEFA wants to keep Russian flags out of the stadium when Ukraine plays its first European Championship game Monday after some were displayed in the stands at other matches.
UEFA said security staff will try to intercept and remove
Russian flags from being displayed at the Munich stadium where Ukraine plays
Romania on Monday afternoon in the Euro 2024 group stage.
Russian teams were banned by UEFA from international
competitions within days of the full military invasion of Ukraine starting in
February 2022.
Still, Russian citizens could try to buy tickets for Euro
2024 games. The national flag of white, red and blue horizontal bands has been
displayed at some of the first group-stage matches, including in Munich last
Friday next to Scotland flags at the opening game against Germany.
Several Russian flags also were seen among Serbia fans
during their team’s game against England on Sunday in Gelsenkirchen. Serbia is
one of Russia’s strongest traditional allies in Europe.
Many images of Jude Bellingham celebrating scoring the only
goal of the game for England had Russian flags that could be clearly seen
behind him in the Serbian end of the stadium.
German authorities previously said they only wanted to allow
flags of the participating teams to be brought to stadiums and official fan
zones broadcasting games on big screens in the 10 host cities. That was seen
also as a protective measure to avoid likely provocations if Israeli and
Palestinian flags were displayed.
UEFA also has disciplinary rules against political messages
at stadiums and can punish teams if such are displayed by their fans. AP