Football fans beat up Russians in St. Jakob Park

Actually, it should be an entertaining evening among football fans. FC Basel played against on Sunday Napkin FC. But some Swiss people were very angry about a young man who filmed the match – and also commented on it in Russian. Artyom Ovsyannikov is the son of the press officer at the Russian football club Arsenal Tula and a big football fan. He has been studying in Freiburg (D) since 2019 and also comes to Switzerland to watch football matches. Likewise this Sunday.

The Russian filmed the match from the stands and commented on it in his native language. This attracted attention. On a video that Ovsyannikov self-published, one can hear a Swiss say: «You have no business here!»

The student reports that he was attacked afterwards. “He kicked me with all his might!” he says in the video in Russian. “And then he asked me to remove the video,” he said Ovsyannikov. He looks around in disbelief. “I’m shocked – you wouldn’t expect something like that in Switzerland,” he said. The seller at the sausage stand just shrugged, but didn’t help him.

Ultra fans panic when they are filmed

For the Ovsyannikov can keep talking, the next fan comes and tries to knock the mobile phone out of his hand. “Go outside!” do you hear Soccer fan speak Swiss German. The Russian told the Russian news site “Sport-Express” that he was dragged outside by his jacket and pushed into a corner. He screamed for help until security forces finally intervened.

FC Basel distanced itself from the attacks and apologized to the Russian. “We’re sorry about what you’re running into in our game Napkin endure and we hope you are well,” the post read. However, it isn’t Russophobe Attacking, the club clarifies to Blick. In the fan sector, there is no tolerance when filming, “regardless of where the person comes from and what language he speaks,” said a spokesperson for FC Basel. Filming is not prohibited, but ultrafans generally panic during filming. “That justifies it naturally no violence”, FC Basel clarifies.

FC Basel invites Russians to the match

The Russian did not know that there was an unwritten law. Ovsyannikov says, “I’ve watched matches many times, nothing like this has ever happened to me.” The club admits that things did not go well. “We are pleased to invite you and your companions to another game of your choice in our main grandstand,” the letter concludes.

Ovsyannikov reported to the police, who are now looking for the perpetrators. The police confirm that Blick is aware of the case. The manager of the club also told the Russian that the perpetrators were threatened with a restraining order. But football fans on social media have little sympathy for the Russian. Ovsyannikov does not understand the behavior of the fans. However, the Russian accepts the apologies from the Swiss club.

Source: Blick