Anti-Hungarian banner displayed by Slovan supporters at the match against DAC

Slovan’s hardcore has never shied away from anti-Hungarianism, but their recent use of the name Hungary as Mongolia in several forms during the game has caused an enormous outcry.

With the approval of the Slovak Football Association, the hard core of Slovak league leaders Slovan Bratislava’s supporters unfurled anti-Hungarian banners at the match against DAC Dunaszerdahely in Bratislava (Pozsony) on Saturday. This is not the first time that DAC, which has an identity-preserving function for Hungarians living in the Highlands, has been subjected to such atrocities, and the authorities appear to be turning a blind eye to the blatant discrimination.

FC DAC 1904 Dunaszerdahely (FC DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda in Slovakian) is officially a football club registered and operating in Slovakia but is known as a “Hungarian team” for many reasons. Dunajská Streda is located in southern Slovakia, where a significant proportion of the population is of Hungarian nationality. Trianon, the city was part of Hungary, like Bratislava, and the local Hungarian-speaking culture has been strong ever since. To keep the community together, DAC matches are typically attended by many Hungarian fans, who often show up at the stadium with Hungarian flags and signs. The Hungarian anthem is usually played before or during matches, further strengthening the bond between the club and the Hungarian nationality. A number of Hungarian business sponsors and managers have worked or are working at the club. In addition, there are various collaborations with Hungarian football, further increasing the presence of Hungarian identity around the team.

Preserving their own culture seems to offend Slovan’s ultras. On their official Facebook page, Ultras Slovan also boasted a banner with the inscription ‘Slovakia, the country of Slovaks and Slovan fans’. On the banner, a ski-masked Bratislava ultra is giving a lesson to students wearing DAC and Ferencváros jerseys. The inscription on the backs of several of them and the drawing on the board refer to Hungary as Mongolia. And this action was made possible with the support of the football team’s management, and the anti-Hungarian choreography is proudly displayed on the team’s official website.

DAC reacted to Saturday’s Hungarian abuse in an official statement. As they write, DAC 1904 expresses its deep disappointment and concern about the events that took place during our match against Slovan Bratislava on 12 April – in particular the choreography (tifo) presented by the home fans, which we consider not only inappropriate but also offensive, exclusionary and divisive. The Slovak Football Federation had to give its permission for the offensive choreography to be brought to the match by Slovan fans, but the Federation has not yet spoken out on the matter.

As we wrote in March, a 20-year-old Hungarian man stabbed in Bratislava because he spoke Hungarian, details HERE.

In the fifth round of the top-flight play-offs of the Slovak Football League (Nische Liga), the top-of-the-table clash ended in a 2-2 draw after the home side came from two goals down in stoppage time. DAC’s squad hardly included any Hungarian players, with Máté Tuboly getting a chance, substituted in the 63rd minute.

Slovan Bratislava-DAC 1904 2-2 (0-0)
Scorers: Zuberu 77′, Barseghyan 84′ and Blasko 55′, Djukanovic 62′ (from penalty)

Slovan’s low popularity is shown by the fact that the match was watched by only 8,900 spectators, and presumably, the new confrontation will do the team no good either.

Read here more news about Slovakia-Hungary relations.