The Fare network, an international NGO campaigning against hate crimes in football, today condemned the display of a homophobic banner at the Sarajevo derby on Saturday (May 16).
More than one half of a curva of the Olympic Stadium Asim Ferhatovic-Hase, was dominated by a banner which read “May 17th is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia and in honor of your holiday tomorrow we want you to suck our dicks”.
Images of the match showed a large presence of stewards and police, none of whom appeared to challenge the display.
The Executive Director of the Fare network, Piara Powar, said, “This choreography was one of the worst displays of homophobia we have seen this season, which may be a source of pride for the people responsible for it but it may also mark a watershed moment. The rules of football are clear, acts of discrimination are to be challenged and sanctioned, we will be contacting the Bosnian FA and the Bosnian government asking them to do just that. National sporting events cannot be the means of spreading hate; the people of Sarajevo know that better than most others. In the meantime, we stand alongside the victims of this act, the LGBT community in Bosnia, in defying hatred and calling for tolerance and inclusion.”
Bosnian news portal trafika.ba described the scene in Sarajevo on Saturday: “Streets across the city were filled with singing fans alongside tourists from around the world, bars and restaurants were teeming. Sarajevo presented an ideal spring picture, a time for everyone to celebrate.
“This image was cut short by the appearance of a huge banner in the stands of the Kosevo stadium with homophobic insults towards the gay population. The banner was of enormous proportions and required several hundred fans to hold it. Their love for their team expressed through messages of hate and intolerance.”
Trafika|Ba
