Do bad anthem pronunciations have consequences?: SFV reports Tiktoker for racism

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Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka are “Schachtelgrinde”. Murat Yakin a “kebab seller”. And the dark-skinned Jordan Lotomba is a “fearful figure”. Under the pseudonym “bireweichesouhund”, Tiktoker Mirco Casorelli makes jokes about the stars of the Swiss national team – and is now charged with violating the racist criminal standard Article 261bis of the Criminal Code. Sender: None other than the Swiss Football Association (SFV).

Nati anthem scrutinized

Background: Casorelli has been keeping a close eye on the Nati stars during the playing of the national anthem for some time now. Comment on who is singing and who is not, garnish it all with the terms mentioned at the beginning – and publish the videos under the title “Singing Control”. Although some criticize Casorelli for this or describe the posts as unfunny, he largely receives applause from his followers. “bireweichesouhund” is followed by 72,000 people on Tiktok and 18,700 on Instagram.

Because of this wide reach, Casorelli is a public figure from the perspective of the SFV. And a report is justified. Last July, the association asked the cantonal police of Bern to launch an investigation against Casorelli. SFV communications director Adrian Arnold told Blick: “Everyone is free to decide whether they are okay with not singing the national anthem or not. But humor and parody end where a person’s dignity is violated or people are humiliated. In this case, the author insults, humiliates and publicly disqualifies national team players whose families have a migration background, i.e. because of their origins. This is racism that we in the SFV will not tolerate under any circumstances – not in football and not elsewhere in our society.”

According to Blick-Infos, the desire to take action against the videos came mainly from Granit Xhaka, Shaqiri and Co. – so from the players. Initially, the association was hesitant to give the contributions an even larger platform. But after Casorelli “struck” during the U21 European Championship in the summer of 2023, the advertisement went out. Also as a signal that the SFV will, if necessary, follow up with action the campaigns it has initiated against racism and discrimination.

He received mail from the police

Six months later, late last week, Casorelli received mail from the police. An invitation to comment on the allegations. Casorelli tells Blick what he will say to the police: “That’s ridiculous! I am absolutely not a racist. My father is Italian, my wife has a dark skin color. The videos are satire.” When he talks about the ‘Jugo boy band’, he is well aware that Albanians and Serbs are two different camps. He has numerous friends with a migrant background, and native Albanians used to call each other when they ‘Schachtelgrind’ made a joke. And: “If someone tells me that he eats spaghetti, it means nothing. As long as it is not meant aggressively.”

He started with the ‘singing controls’ because he saw a similar video on the internet: ‘I was sick at the time, I was bored – so I imitated it. But just for fun!”

Tiktoker thinks the ad is exaggerated

Nevertheless, can he understand the reasons given by the SFV for the report? Casorelli: “Like I said: an advertisement is completely exaggerated. And I’m not afraid of being judged either. In any case, a police officer told me on the phone not to worry. But yes: if you don’t know that I make my money with satire on social media and have never seen the videos, you might think I’m racist.”

Casorelli has not yet hired an attorney. He wanted to wait until he was interrogated by the police. He would much rather solve the matter differently: face to face with the Nati stars he is mocking. Casorelli: “That would be great! But I’m afraid I’m not famous enough for that.”

Source : Blick