FCU defends controversial visit by Orban to stadium: "We didn't receive him officially."
FC Union Berlin fans have voiced their displeasure at a visit from controversial Hungarian Victor Orban at the the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Tuesday.
The German club itself issued statements on the matter ahead of Wednesday's press conference.
Controversial Hungarian strongman Victor Orban paid a visit to Union Berlin's Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Tuesday. The Hungarian Premier paid a visit to Union's Hungarian international Andras Schäfer, from whom he received a signed tricot. Unsurprisingly, not long after Orban's public relations stunt made the rounds on social media, Union ultras lodged protests against the club's cooperation.
The German club itself issued statements on the matter ahead of Wednesday's press conference.
Orban being effectively the symbol of dangerous anti-democratic and anti-human rights trends on Europe's Eastern fringes meant that the left-leaning FCU ultras would have to voice their displeasure with the visit. Union communications director Christian Arbeit spoke on the matter at the beginning of Wednesday's pre-Europa League press conference.
"There was an official letter from the Hungarian embassy with the request to allow a private meeting of a Hungarian national player," Arbeit said at the presser, "We have complied with this request. We did not receive him officially."
Arbeit sought to emphasize that the official motorcade that turned up at the stadium yesterday was not part of some stealth effort on behalf of the club. In revealing the visit, the media chief noted that the club aimed for absolute transparency.
"This should not be viewed politically," Arbeit stressed, "Viktor Orban was not undercover in Germany, he was on an official state visit."