October 2 – UEFA seem certain to impose sanctions after activists protesting against Champions League sponsor Gazprom interrupted the Basel-Schalke group game Tuesday by abseiling from the stadium roof at St Jakob-Park, forcing a brief suspension.
Four protestors wearing orange boiler suits and helmets, apparently supporting environmental group Greenpeace, descended slowly on ropes which had been dropped from the roof after a few minutes of play, and unfurled a banner which read “Gazprom. Don’t Foul The Arctic.” Play was stopped for about five minutes.
The Russian gas supplier is a main sponsor of the Champions League as well as of Schalke, one of Germany’s leading clubs.
Host clubs are responsible for security and UEFA said in a statement the incident, which prompted a brief first-half hold-up, “will be notified” in reports of match officials regarding “the potential opening of disciplinary proceedings.”
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