Ben McCrum
Fans have raised concerns over safety at Euro 2024 after a YouTuber dressed as Albart the bear made it on to the pitch just minutes before kick-off.
Euro 2024 got underway on Friday 14 June, as hosts Germany dominated Scotland in a 5-1 victory.
The tournament has started on an exciting note, with several high scoring matches and upsets, including Belgium’s shock 1-0 loss to Slovakia.
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But the excitement over the competition has been tarnished by concerns after a German YouTuber breached matchday security by making it onto the pitch ahead of the Euros opener.
Marvin Wildhage, who has more than 870,000 YouTube subscribers, reportedly got into the Munich arena for the match between Germany and Scotland, despite having a fake ID and no accreditation.
The 27-year-old, accompanied by two other men, rented a black Volkswagen and covered it with fake German Football Association (DFB) logos and the words ‘Volkswagen Mobility Service.’
After making it into the ground, Wildhage changed into a costume resembling Albart the bear, the official mascot of the tournament, and filmed himself, walking out to the pitch and waving to fans.
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All three men were eventually caught and placed in custody by security forces and have been banned from attending the remainder of the tournament.
And it’s not the first time the YouTuber has breached the tournament, after he previously infiltrated a German training session.
UEFA released a statement regarding the incident, saying: “We can confirm that there was an incident with a fake mascot costume at the match in Munich on June 14, 2024 between Germany and Scotland.
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“Three people have gained unauthorized access to the Munich Football Arena. UEFA has assessed the situation and initiated the necessary organisational measures.
“Three individuals have been banned from entering stadiums hosting UEFA EURO 2024 matches. Please understand that we cannot provide any further information due to the ongoing proceedings of the investigating authorities.”
The incident comes in a week with several major security incidents including the arrest of an ISIS terror suspect at Cologne-Bonn Airport, who was reportedly attempting to sneak into the tournament disguised as a security guard.
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