The banner at Legia Warsaw's stadium read “Refugees Welcome” but it featured an image of two men holding a baseball bat and a hammer alongside a woman with a pig's head on a plate, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Another controversial aspect was the musical accompaniment, which included vulgar and hateful songs explicitly calling for animosity towards refugees, it said.
'Sport should never be used to stigmatize refugees': UNHCR
"Sport should never be used to perpetuate hate speech and stigmatize refugees,” said Kevin J. Allen, the UNHCR Representative in Poland.
"In the best of sporting tradition, it represents the strength of the human spirit and overcoming challenges," he added. "The Refugee Olympic Team in Paris is a poignant example of this."
The Paris 2024 Refugee Olympic Team, made up of 37 athletes competing across 12 sports, represents more than 100 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. It demonstrates to the world that refugees are an enrichment to society, according to the olympics.com website.
Legia Warsaw denounces controversial fan display
In response to the controversial fan display, Legia Warsaw has issued a statement asserting that it respects diverse viewpoints, distancing itself from the stance of its fans, and highlighting its commitment to assisting refugees.
Warsaw City Hall has called for action to be taken against the fans.
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Source: PAP/UNHCR Poland/legia.com/x.com
