Impending repercussions

Ferencvaros fans are not allowed to enter the country, club rages

The Ferencvaros fans were banned from entering Austria.(Bild: GruppaOF)

Around 600 Ferencváros Budapest fans were denied permission to leave Hungary and travel to the Europa League match against FC Salzburg. The club announced legal action in a statement, and the Hungarian foreign minister summoned the ambassador. Meanwhile, the local police firmly deny any accusations.

A special train was supposed to take around 600 fans from Budapest to Salzburg on Thursday. However, nothing came of it, as the supporters of the traditional Hungarian club were banned from entering the country at the Austro-Hungarian border in Hegyeshalom just before Nickelsdorf.

"We have never been such hosts"
Without justification, as Ferencvaros laments in a statement: "The Ferencvárosi Torna Club has learned with dismay of the news that the special train with the Ferencváros fans, who were traveling to the UEFA Europa League group match RB Salzburg - FTC on Thursday, was turned back at the Hungarian-Austrian border by decision of the Austrian Ministry of the Interior - without any justification. This shameful procedure is reminiscent of the worst years of Austrian oppression, is incomprehensible, unacceptable and extremely unsportsmanlike. We have never been such hosts ... The club will take the necessary legal action."

Incidents involving pyrotechnics are also said to have occurred. These are said to be a possible reason for the refusal of entry.

Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto described the action on Facebook as "outrageous and scandalous". According to Szijjarto, ÖBB and the police had passed the buck to each other. The Austrian ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and Ferencvaros announced "legal action".

At the request of the "Krone", the Ministry of the Interior stated that there were no police measures from the Austrian side. On the contrary: Austrian officers were not even on site. The Hungarian train company apparently decided to uncouple two carriages and leave them in Hegyeshalom after incidents on and in the train. The Ministry of the Interior referred to various other international soccer matches for which they had always been prepared and where police officers from Austria had always ensured the safe entry and exit of the visiting fans.