UEFA fines Serbian footballers for chant about Orthodox faith
A banner with the inscription "May our faith lead you to victory" at the stadium in Belgrade. Photo: orthodoxianewsagency
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has fined the Serbian club "Crvena Zvezda" for displays of faith by fans during a Europa League match, which allegedly damaged the reputation of the competition. This is reported by rts.rs website.
During the game against French club "Lille," held on February 26, 2026 in Belgrade, fans unfurled a banner with an image of Saint Simeon the Myrrh-Streaming, whose feast day the Church was celebrating on that day, and the inscription: "May faith lead you to victory."
UEFA regarded this as a "political message" violating the organization's regulations. In total, following the match, the amount of fines for the footballers was 95 thousand euros, including sanctions for using pyrotechnics and other violations.
As reported, the largest part of the fine amounting to 40,000 euros was imposed for "inappropriate messages and content" which, according to UEFA's assessment, "damage the reputation of the tournament and organization."
As the UOJ wrote, football federations of Egypt and Iran sent a letter to FIFA demanding the cancellation of an LGBT action at their group stage match of the 2026 World Cup.
Read also
Clergy of Serbian and Greek Churches celebrate Divine Liturgy in Belgrade
A joint Divine Liturgy of clergy from the Serbian and Greek Churches was celebrated in the Serbian capital with the participation of pilgrims from Greece, underscoring the unity of the faith.
Wonderworking Theotokos icon honored at Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos
At Vatopedi on Mount Athos, on the feast of the Life-Giving Spring icon, the monks and clergy celebrated the Divine Liturgy and held a procession with the monastery’s wonderworking icon of the Mother of God.
St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral in Kyiv switches to new calendar
Starting May 1, services at St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral will be celebrated according to the new calendar.
Thousands take part in March for Life in Warsaw to defend family and faith
Polish President Karol Nawrocki joined the mass procession held to mark the 1,060th anniversary of the Baptism of Poland.
Israeli soldier destroys statue of Christ in Lebanon
In the Lebanese village of Debel, an IDF serviceman smashed the face of the Savior on a crucifix with hammer blows.
Shostatsky again complains of personnel shortage in OCU
The head of the Khmelnytskyi eparchy of the OCU has once again acknowledged an acute shortage of clergy – when communities “transfer” from the UOC, priests refuse to join the OCU.