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UEFA apologises to Bayern fans for banning jokey Latin banner

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UEFA apologises to Bayern fans for banning jokey Latin banner
Photo: DPA

The European football association UEFA has apologized to FC Bayern Munich fans for banning a humorous banner telling supporters of AS Rome to “go home” in Latin during a Champions League match in September.

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Bavarian fans wanted to hold up a sign reading “Romans go home” (Romani ite domum) in reference to the classic Monty Python film “Life of Brian,” which has a scene showing a zealous centurion correcting the Latin grammar of Brian’s anti-Roman graffiti.

UEFA banned the message fearing it was discriminatory against an ethnic group and therefore a threat to security at the match. But Munich-based daily Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on Wednesday that the football functionaries had seen the error of their ways and expressed their regret to the Bayern fans.

“We acknowledge the motto was unfortunately misinterpreted by UEFA. We belatedly congratulate you on your humorous creation that unfortunately was never shown and we apologize for the ban,” the association said in a statement quoted by the paper.

The embarrassing acknowledgement is the second apology from UEFA to Bayern fans in recent weeks – officials earlier this month reversed their opposition to banners referring to the Bavarian city Dachau after recognizing they had nothing to do with the Nazi death camp once located there.

The Local/mry

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