Days after a defeat by Manchester United, the fans of Swiss team Young Boys engaged in a unique protest during their home match against FC Basel. With the score at 0-0 in the first half, Young Boys’ ultras disrupted the game by hurling PlayStation 4 controllers and tennis balls onto the pitch.
The protest at the Stade de Suisse was aimed at preventing the club from introducing an eSports team. The dedicated fans, known as ultras, believe that the club’s resources should be invested in the actual team and its facilities rather than in digital competitions.
To express their disapproval, the ultras, supported by FC Basel fans, unfurled a massive ‘pause button’ banner that travelled around the terraces. The referee was compelled to halt the game for several minutes to allow for the removal of the objects from the playing surface.
Once play resumed, Young Boys went on to dominate the match, ultimately defeating Basel 7-1 in a performance reminiscent of the video game FIFA 18.
This unusual protest underscores the tension between traditional football supporters and the growing trend of eSports within established sports clubs.
