Borussia Dortmund fans blast 'UEFA mafia' for Champions League changes
Dortmund fans raise banners against UEFA ahead of the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Celtic FC at the BVB Stadion in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. Credit: AP/Martin Meissner
DORTMUND, Germany — Borussia Dortmund fans have made their opposition to Champions League reforms clear with a huge tifo blasting European soccer’s governing body UEFA.
The supporters displayed the words “UEFA mafia” behind one of the goals before Tuesday’s match against Scottish team Celtic, above a banner saying “You don’t care about the sport — all you care about is money!” Another banner above showed a website link making clear the banners referred to Champions League reforms.
This season UEFA has changed the structure to Europe’s premier competition to add four more teams. The group stage has been scrapped for a league system with each of the now 36 participating teams playing eight opponents once in a first phase of the competition.
Also before Tuesday’s game, Celtic fans flew Palestinian and Lebanese flags.
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