Legia Warsaw, the Polish football club, made headlines once again with their controversial actions during their Europa Conference League clash with Molde. The club’s ultras, who usually occupy the Zyleta stand, responded to Uefa’s closure of their stadium section with an explicit tifo. This comes as no surprise as Legia Warsaw has had numerous run-ins with Uefa throughout the season.
During the group phase of the competition, Dutch police reported that Legia fans attacked officers before a match against AZ Alkmaar. One officer was even knocked unconscious in the altercation. In another incident, 30 supporters were arrested after a clash with police prior to Legia’s 2-1 defeat at Villa Park, where they faced Premier League outfit Aston Villa.
As a result of the incident involving AZ Alkmaar, Legia Warsaw was fined by Uefa. In addition, European football’s governing body banned supporters over the age of 14 from sitting in their ultras’ frequented Zyleta end for the match against Molde.
Despite this ban, Legia Warsaw’s fans found a way to express their discontent with Uefa. A banner reading “This time you won, Uefa” could be seen across the Zyleta stand. However, as kick-off approached, a massive tifo was unveiled in the main stand. The tifo featured an X-rated message and a Lego man wearing sunglasses against a background of green, white, and red – the club’s colors. The message beneath the Lego man read: “Surprise, Motherf***ers!”
The repercussions for Legia Warsaw have been severe. Uefa has already banned their fans from attending the club’s next five European away games. This latest explicit tifo could potentially land the club in even hotter water.
Unfortunately for Legia Warsaw, their journey in the Europa Conference League has come to an end. They were knocked out by Molde, losing the second leg 3-2 after a 6-2 aggregate defeat. Fredrik Gulbrandsen and Eirik Hestad were the stars of the night for Molde, scoring two goals each to secure their team’s victory.
As the Legia Warsaw players lined up before the game, the explicit tifo from the main stand served as a reminder of the ongoing tensions between the club’s ultras and Uefa. The players, despite their defeat, clapped their fans in appreciation for their support.
Legia Warsaw’s ultras have once again made their mark, this time with an X-rated tifo aimed at Uefa. The club’s ongoing conflicts with European football’s governing body have resulted in fines, bans, and now a potentially further investigation. The passion and dedication of Legia Warsaw’s fans cannot be denied, but their methods of protest continue to raise eyebrows. As the club looks to move forward, they will need to find a way to channel their support without causing further controversy.