Even if you’re not a football fan, you probably heard about the shocking collapse of a Danish footballer during a match at the Euro 2020 tournament.
The player is believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch while playing, but fortunately, he has since regained consciousness.
A couple of days ago, however, it was several fans at a stadium who suffered injuries, and it’s all thanks to a man who fell out of the sky.
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Fans Hospitalised After Protestor Parachutes into Stadium Before France – Germany Football Match
Several fans have been hospitalised after a protestor parachuted into a stadium in Germany during a football match.
The match was played between France and Germany at the Allianz Arena in Munich in the first round of the Euro 2020 games.
France won the match 1-0, but it wasn’t only the German players who ended up getting hurt.
Moments before the match started, a protestor parachuted into the stadium, hoping to land on the pitch.
But he ended up zipping dangerously close to fans at the stadium before doing so.
Several videos captured the parachutist nearly colliding with fans:
Can't believe I just caught this on video. Parachuted into the stadium, got caught in the spider cam and nearly crashed into the crowd. Hope he's ok! #GERFRA #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/PJ49WYdFM9
— Max Merrill (@MaxMerrill_) June 15, 2021
France’s manager, Didier Deschamps, was also seen ducking out of the way of a large piece of equipment near the dugout.
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According to The Guardian, the man had connected with overhead camera wires which caused debris to fall onto the pitch and main grandstand.
As a result, several fans ended up getting injured, and required hospitalisation.
“This inconsiderate act – which could have had very serious consequences for a huge number of people attending – caused injuries to several people attending the game who are now in hospital and law authorities will take the necessary action,” said UEFA, the football governing body organising the tournament.
Greenpeace Apologises for Injuries
Ironically, the organisation responsible for this mishap is one that advocates peace.
It turns out that the protestor was part of Greenpeace, a non-governmental organisation that aims to create a “greener, more peaceful world, and to confront the systems that threaten our environment.”
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The protester’s parachute had the slogan “KICK OUT OIL!” and “Greenpeace” on it.
A Greenpeace spokesperson explained that the paraglider was supposed to fly over the stadium and drop a latex ball with a message of protest onto the field.
However, “technical difficulties meant the pilot was forced to land in the stadium,” which the spokesperson says was never the intention.
“We deeply regret that this put people in danger and apparently injured two persons,” he said.
On Twitter, the NGO later explained that its intention was to protest against Euro 2020 sponsor Volkswagen, and its reliance on “climate-damaging diesel and petrol cars”.
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+++ BREAKING +++ Hey @Volkswagen, time to kick out oil! #Greenpeace activists protest against the games' sponsor at the #FRAGER-match and demand: stop selling climate-damaging diesel and petrol cars! #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/YpDxGVxzIM
— Greenpeace e.V. (@greenpeace_de) June 15, 2021
It added that Greenpeace’s actions have always been peaceful and non-violent, and that the protest was never intended to disrupt the game or injure people.
“Unfortunately, not everything went according to plan with this campaign.”
You can say that again.
Featured Image: Youtube (Afrochami)
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