Austria’s team manager Ralf Rangnick has expressed concern about the rise of right-wing extremism in Europe.
“I think we live in turbulent times in which you can no longer say: one is sport and the other is politics and the two things have nothing to do with each other,” said Rangnick in an interview with ORF.
People in the public eye should take a stand on these issues, said Rangnick, who had previously warned in the Austrian newspaper “Der Standard” of a rise in right-wing extremism. “The history of Austria and Germany in the last hundred years in particular should be enough of a lesson for us,” said Rangnick. If someone “still hasn’t understood what has regularly led us to ruin, there’s really no way to help them.”
Mbappé and other French players stand up against the shift to the right
The political situation is also being addressed in other teams. Kylian Mbappé and other players publicly opposed the shift to the right and called on people in France to go to the parliamentary elections to prevent a victory by the right-wing populist Rassemblement National. The election will take place during the European Championship.
In Germany, a representative survey by ARD revealed racist attitudes among the German population with regard to the German national team. According to the survey, 21 percent would find it “better” if more white players were playing in the German team again. The survey was part of the film “Unity and Justice and Diversity”, a documentary about the German team, which has many players with a migration background.
Fans from Austria caused one of several right-wing extremist incidents at the European Championships
Ralf Rangnick, who worked as head coach in the Bundesliga at VfB Stuttgart, Hannover 96, Schalke 04, TSG Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig, warned: “We have to be very vigilant and very careful, especially with our right eye.” The European Championships are accompanied by numerous incidents that revolve around right-wing extremism or excessive nationalism. Fans from Austria were also part of them: At the match in Berlin against Poland, fans displayed a poster with the inscription “Defend Europe” – a slogan that right-wing extremists have been rallying behind for years to demand a radical change in migration policy.
Austrian fans with “Defend Europe” banner
“If you imagine how heterogeneous the teams are, both in terms of social background or where the parents and grandparents grew up – there can be no better example of diversity, of cohesion and of team sport,” said Rangnick.
