UEFA fines French club for banner with RCC saint
A banner with the image of Joan of Arc. Photo: greekcitytimes
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) fined French club LOSC Lille 83 thousand euros for a banner depicting Joan of Arc – a Catholic saint, repors Greek City Times.
The incident occurred during one of the matches when fans displayed a banner with the image of the saint, who is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church and considered a national heroine of France. UEFA deemed this a violation of rules prohibiting the display of religious, political, or ideological symbols at stadiums.
The situation caused additional resonance against the backdrop of UEFA's recent decision to fine Serbian club "Red Star" for a banner with an Orthodox icon. At that time, fans claimed it was about expressing faith and cultural identity, not a political message.
Two consecutive decisions sparked criticism among fans and commentators, the publication notes, who saw in the actions of football officials a tendency to restrict Christian symbolism.
Meanwhile, UEFA states that they are acting within the framework of unified rules aimed at maintaining stadium "neutrality" and preventing possible conflicts.
Nevertheless, as observers note, the cases with the French and Serbian clubs have intensified discussion about the boundaries of acceptable expression of religious and cultural identity in European sport.
As the UOJ wrote, Egypt and Iran demand FIFA cancel the "pride match" between their national teams.
Read also
Lavra reserve head estimates damage to Dormition Cathedral at €15 million
Maksym Ostapenko said restoring the Dormition Cathedral would take at least a couple of years and require major funding.
DESS official says state should not govern the Church
A DESS official called for cooperation between the state and the Church for the benefit of citizens.
Poltava court upholds mobilization of Protestant pastor
A court in the Poltava region ruled that a prior criminal conviction and religious beliefs do not exempt a person from military service.
Ostapenko: Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra would not exist without Soviet-era reserve
The reserve director spoke about the Soviet museum’s role in saving the monastery, while stressing the need to rethink its history.
Metropolitan Anthony criticizes DESS order on Boryspil Eparchy
The UOC chancellor rejected officials’ findings, pointing to procedural violations in the DESS review.
Two more parishes in Sloviansk reregistered under OCU
The organizer behind the transfer of UOC communities in Sloviansk said the reregistration of churches would continue.