Police are examining a complaint over a threatening banner displayed by Ferencváros supporters during Sunday’s derby against Újpest, while the club says it “basically condemns all threats”.
The Ferencváros–Újpest derby ended in a 2-2 draw on Sunday, but the football result was overshadowed by a bitter exchange between the two fanbases in the stands. Among the banners displayed by Ferencváros (Fradi) supporters was a particularly disturbing message directed at anyone who might “hurt” the club:
“Love Fradi and you’ll be happy. If you hurt Fradi, you’ll be dead. Love Fradi and support them with us; if you hurt Fradi, we’ll beat you to death.”
The message has now resulted in a police complaint. According to Magyar Hang, the Budapest Police Headquarters (BRFK) has received a report concerning the banner and is currently examining its contents. A criminal investigation has not yet been formally launched over the threat.
Fradi asked to condemn threats
Telex contacted Ferencváros to ask whether the club condemned the message and how it viewed a separate incident in which a critic of club president Gábor Kubatov was allegedly attacked by masked men after a men’s handball match.
The club initially declined to comment on the attack, saying that a police investigation was under way and that it would not discuss the case until that process was completed. After repeated questions, however, Ferencváros gave a brief response concerning the threatening banner:
“The FTC basically condemns all threats.”
The club’s press office repeatedly shifted attention to a banner displayed by Újpest supporters reading “Gábor Kubatov, start worrying”, asking whether the media intended to comment on what it considered a threat against its president.
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The controversy surrounding Fradiváros
The increasingly hostile atmosphere is linked partly to the long-running Fradiváros controversy, which concerns billions of forints in state funding awarded to Ferencváros for the development of its Népliget sports complex.
Ferencváros received almost HUF 25 billion (about EUR 63 million) in state support in 2016 and 2017 for the project. However, little of the planned development materialised. According to the club’s accounts, much of the money was reported as operating and material expenditure, while HUF 11.2 billion was spent on signing professional footballers.
The Hungarian Interior Ministry has filed a criminal complaint over the matter, and an investigation is under way. Journalists investigating the spending have subsequently become targets of threats from sections of the club’s fanbase. A banner recently appeared referring to journalist János Kele, who reported extensively on the Fradiváros case, while another message targeted journalist András Murányi.
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From threats to an alleged attack
The controversy has also moved beyond banners and online messages. Last week, four masked individuals allegedly attacked Zoltán Lajos Németh, who runs the C-Közép supporters’ blog and has long been critical of Kubatov. He was reportedly sprayed with pepper spray and called a “traitorous lackey” following the Ferencváros–Dabas handball match.
Featured image is illustration. Photo: Facebook/Ferencvárosi Torna Club
